Small Mammal Mail Newsletter celebrating the most useful yet most neglected Mammals for CCINSA & RISCINSA -- Chiroptera, Rodentia, Insectivora, & Scandentia Conservation and Information Networks of South Asia
Volume 6 Number 1 ISSN 2230-7087 September 2014
Contents
Study of the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) Colonies of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India: Record of largest roosting congregation at Targol, Raju Vyas and Kartik Upadhyay, Pp. 2-8
Records of roosting sites of Indian Flying Fox Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich, 1782) from Madhya Pradesh, India, S.S. Talmale, Pp. 9-11
Interaction of Indian Flying Foxes Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich, 1782) with the plant species in the Lower Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, Azad Ali, Pp. 12-14
Population and Conservation status of the Indian Flying Fox roost in Itiadoh dam, Maharashtra, S.V. Bhandarkar and G.T. Paliwal, Pp. 15-18
Successful One year completion of Small Mammals Hiking Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sabina Koirala, P. 19 Insect Pest Management by Horseshoe Bats of KMTR, Tamil Nadu, Pp. 40-47 Unexpected death of Indian Flying Foxes Pteropus giganteus in Jahangirnagar University campus, Savar, Bangladesh, Tahsinur Rahman Shihan, P. 20
Record of Endemic Malabar Spiny Tree mouse, Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth 1859 from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Kerala, Divin Murukesh and Anoop Das, P. 21
The Record of Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans from Gaurishankar Conservation area, Nepal, Sagar Dahal, Kaustuv Raj Neupane and Giovanni Amori, Pp. 22-23
Small mammal awareness programme for local communities in Tamil Nadu - a report, Brawin Kumar, Pp. 24-28 Chiroptera Research Techniques and Conservation in Bangladesh, Pp. 29-35 Chiroptera Research Techniques and Conservation in Bangladesh - Report Nurul Islam, Pp. 29-35
Training Workshop on Building National Capacity in Research and Monitoring of Small Mammals, Nepal - Report by SMCRF, Pp. 36-39
Insect Pest Management by Horseshoe Bats of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu, Selva Ponmalar, S. and Juliet Vanitharani, Pp. 40-47
Successful One year completion of Small Mammals Hiking Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal, P. 19
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 1 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 1 Study of the Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) Colonies of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India: Record of largest roosting congregation at Targol Raju Vyas1 and Kartik Upadhyay2
Abstract: Four colonies of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) was observed at Talawadi village, Jaban village and Jambughoda town, in Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. These colonies were characterized by a large aggregation of adult bats ranging between a few hundreds to few thousands. The most remarkable colony was noted at Targol, where ~11,000 bats of mixed age groups (young ones, juveniles and adults) roosting on various ten species of 182 large tall trees. It is now considered as one of the largest ever recorded roosting colonies of Pteropus giganteus in Gujarat State and may be in India as well.
Key Words: Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus, roost, colony, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Introduction: The order Chiroptera is the second largest order of Class: Mammalia, that comprises about over 1117 species of bats in which the suborder Megachiroptera contains one family (Pteropodidae) that includes 186 species of mainly frugivorous bats (Simmons 2005). India has 13 species of fruit bats
(Bates and Harrison 1997, Image 1: The map showing location of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary with Srinivasulu et al. 2010) but only State of Gujarat and location sites of colonies of Indian Flying Fox recorded three are common and found in and out of the Sanctuary. throughout the country, they include Indian flying fox (Pteropus This species is a social and congregations of this species have giganteus), Fulvous fruit bat polygynandrous (promiscuous), been so far recorded at (Rousettus leschenaultii) and living in large aggregations as Peradeniya Botanical Gardens Short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus colonies. Their diurnal roosts are near Kandy, Sri Lanka in sphinx). The remaining species found in various types of large September 2002 by Krystufek are rare and have restricted and tall trees, including Ficus (2009). This is one of the most distribution. The Indian flying fox bengalensis, F. religiosa, persecuted fruit bats in South Asia Pteropus giganteus is the lagest Tamarindus indica, Mangifera due to which this species is listed bat in the group and widely indica, Dalbergia sissoo and distributed in the tropical region Eucalyptus sp (Vendan, 2003). 1505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission of South Central Asia from The colony size can vary from Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat. Pakistan to China and up to far several hundred to thousand Email: [email protected] 2B 104, Premsagar Apartment, Nr. south, the Maldives Islands individuals but the largest Rameshwar Temple, Ellora Park, (Nowak, 1999). Vadodara, Gujarat.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 2 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 2 Table 1: List of Indian Flying Fox colonies in and around the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, India
No Location of Colony Geo-coordination No of Bats Tree Species Remarks Roosted at (No. of Tree) site 1 Near Railway Station 22°25'29.58"N no bats - Earlier in 2000, there Shivrajpur Town 73°36'19.07"E were bats roosting on eight large Eucalyptus Trees 2 Talawadi village 22°27'25.51"N 220 Madhuca indica (3) seasonal dispersal of 73°36'44.61"E bats were observed 3 Panchayat Office 22°22'12.28"N 135 Ficus benghalensis (1) seasonal dispersal of Compound, 73°43'47.23"E bats were observed Jambughoda Town 4 Jaban Village 22°24'11.50"N 285 Ficus religiosa (1) seasonal dispersal of 73°39' 4.46"E Ficus benghalensis (1) bats were observed Palm sp. (2) 5 Targol Dam 22°20'22.98"N; 9233 10 species (Table 2) Largest roosting 73°39'14.38"E colony
73°35’-73°45’ E in the Panchmahals and Vadodara districts of Gujarat State. It covers an area of 130.38 km² of forest within an altitudinal range from 230 to 354 m above sea level. The forest can be classified tropical dry deciduous type (Champion and Seth 1968). The flora and fauna of the sanctuary is moderately rich and diversified with a total of 17 mammalian species inhabitants (Pandya and Oza, 1998; Devkar et. al., 2013).
Methodology: The bat census method was partially adapted here as mentioned by Krystufek Image 2: Spatial distribution congregation and roosting of Indian flying (2009). Each tree was plotted foxes (Pteropus giganteus) in Targol (Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary) site within 20 × 20 m squares. Bat numbers are grouped according to four onto a site map following a 20 x classes. 20 meter grid with counted bats on each tree mentioned along. as vermin under Schedule V of Study Area: This bat colony is Our aim was to record all the the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act located on the west-south fringe trees that hosted roosting and and IUCN Red List data included it of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary other activities of the species. as a Least Concern species (Molur and situated near Targol village The number of bats was counted et al, 2008). (22°20'22.98"N; 73°39'14.38"E) visually on each tree with the help at edge of the Targol Dam, of binoculars (8 x 40). When the The Indian Flying Fox is very Vadodara District. The colony is direct counting was impossible popular and even considered spread encompassing over one sq especially in few large trees with sacred in many parts of India km area where various species of dense canopies found along with (Marimuthu, 1988). The colony large to medium sized trees, large congregations of animals, or size of Indian Flying Fox varies along with few human residences a part of the group was hidden in depending on availability of food (staff quarters of forest and the canopy or the tree remaining (Parry-Jones & Augee 1991; Eby irrigation department) and a small invisible from all sides 1996; Williams et al. 2006) and Eco-tourism complex. (particularly along the water during mating season (Nelson The Jambughoda Wildlife seepage areas of the dam), the 1965; Parry-Jones & Augee 2001; Sanctuary lies between numbers were estimated Holmes 2002). 22°20’-20°33’ N and approximately.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 3 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 3 Table 2: List of tree species and numbers of bats roosting on each tree, bats ranging from few hundreds average number of bats at Targol, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, to few thousands of individuals Gujarat, India. (Table 1). During the visit we found out most remarkable high No Name of the trees No. Total No. of bats Mean numbers of Indian Flying Fox Tree (Range in no. of roosts at Targol Water Reserve on paranthesis) bats the border area of the Sanctuary. 1 Peltophorum (Peltophorum 117 5839 (10-124) 49.9 ferrugineum) There were about 10,000 bats 2 Saru (Casuarina 28 1232 (23-90) 44 roosting in huge aggregations. equisetifolia) 3 Jambu (Syzygium 15 712 (30-80) 47.5 We again revisited the colony on heyneanum) 7th, 14th of April and in 31st of 4 Nilgiri (Eucalyptus sp.) 10 300 (30-50) 30 May 2013 to study and assess a 5 Ambo (Mangifera indica) 3 635 (175-260) 211.7 correct estimation of Indian 6 Savan (Gmelina arborea) 3 115 (35-40) 38.3 Flying Fox along with other relevant information about the 7 Vad (Ficus benghalensis) 2 230 (105-125) 115 species. We counted a total of 8 Piplo (Ficus religiosa) 2 40 (40-50) 20 9233 adult bats (excluding the 9 Ambli (Tamarindus indica) 1 50 (50) 50 young suckling baby bats, which 10 Kalam (Haldinia cordifolia) 1 30 (30) 30 remain attached to their mothers) Total 182 9183 (10-260) 50.46 on 182 trees at Targol Dam site bat colony, as a result of a two day count during noon and evening, excluding the young suckling baby bats, which remain attached on mothers. The details of observations of bat colonies on each tree are provided in Table 2. Highest congregation of bats was observed on Mango trees (M. indica: n=3; Average=211.6 animals) and the least numbers were noticed on Peepal trees (Ficus religiosa: n=2; Average=20 animals). The least numbers of tree species used by bats for roosting were Kalam (Haldinia cordifolia) and Ambli (Tamarindus indicus), respectively. Contrastingly, they used Peltrophorum trees in maximum for roosting.
The large concentrations of Indian Image 3: A dead young Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) found in the Flying Fox roosting for breeding debris at the colony at Targol and nursing are usually interesting for other predators. We spent a total of eight days to Observation and Results: On But unfortunately, we did not th study Indian Flying Fox colonies in 29 March 2013, we visited the come across any predators during and around the Sanctuary (four Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary our visits, except few indirect days in last week of March, two where numerous roosts of various evidences of snakes as trails, or day in April and two days in the species of bats (including Mega feline foot prints observed on the end of May 2012) to estimate the and Microchiroptera) were found ground. During each visit we size of colony, threats and other in different locations. We were hardly found two to three dead relevant information of the able to study four different young ones of Indian Flying Fox species. The count of Targol site colonies of Indian Flying Fox in on the ground (Image 3). There was undertaken in three different and around the Sanctuary (Image may be a possibility of more th th days (7 & 14 April and 31 May 1 & 2). All these colonies young ones, which were 2013) from morning. comprise varying numbers of consumed by nocturnal
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 4 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 4 Image 4: Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) roosting on Sirus (Albizia lebbeck) at Talawadi (in month of April), Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat.
scavengers as no traces were found during daylight. We also noticed 100-150 (approx) adult Indian Flying Fox continuously flying from the colony and hovering over the surface of Targol water reservoir for drinking water. Once we observed that this situation attracts few adult Muggers (Crocodylus palustris) about 2-2.5 meters long. These crocodiles made numerous attempts to capture flying Indian Flying Foxes but in vain. The muggers may be opportunistic predators. During our visit and our observation periods, may be muggers were not successful but presumably they hold fair chances of prey, when bats fly and come
Image 5: Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) roosting on large Madhuca closely over the surface of water. tree (Madhuca indica) at Talawadi (end of June), Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Image 6: The panoramic view of largest roosting site of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) at Targol, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 5 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 5 The local people and residents around the colony seem not very pleased by the presence of bats in vicinity. The entire area remains noisy, by the screaming and squabbling of bats, continuously smelling foul due to droppings of bats. And roofs and walls of houses are stained due to the coloured dropping of bats. It was also observed that some of the trees and tree’s branches were cut down, lying over forest staff quarters. Also fire and smoke were set up regularly under the roosting trees to disturb the bats above to avoid particular trees or branches from inhabiting them.
During the study, we observed seasonal dispersal of bats from Image 7: Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) roosting on Saru (Casuarina equisetifolia) at Targol, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat Talawadi, Jambughoda and Jaban to nearby new sites. In early April, we observed the bats of Talawadi were roosting on two large trees of Sirus (Albizia lebbeck: Image 4) but in the end of May, all the bats migrated from the trees and began roosting the nearby three large trees of Madhuca or ‘Mahudo’ (Madhuca indica: Image 5). Same was noticed at Jambughoda and Jaban, where all the bats abandoned Asopalav (Polyalthia longifolia), Sirus (Albizia lebbeck), Peltophorum (Peltophorum ferrugineum) at Jambughoda, and Kadam (Haldina cordifolia) and Savan (Gmelina arborea) at Jaban, migrated to the canopies of Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) at Jambughoda and Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) and Tad (Borassus flabellifer) at Jaban. These migrations and choice of denser tree canopies could be possibly done, to avoid direct sun light and to survive against harsh heat of summer. But the same phenomenon was not observed at Targol site, except the minor change in Indian Flying Fox density in roosting, especially on the roosting trees situated on the outer periphery. Image 8: An adult female of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) carrying a 5-6 weeks old baby.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 6 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 6 Discussion: The fruit bats from genus Pteropus are unable to find other two roosting colonies at popularly known as flying fox that have been studied Shivrajpur and Pipla. These roosting colonies were in much detail (Rainey and Pierson, 1992). Some not sighted during the present survey due to the Pteropus colonies contain up to a few hundred disturbances or bats might have shifted elsewhere. thousand bats and may have increased to millions of individuals (Nowak, 1999). The larger Pteropus The Targol site earlier was the forest nursery; vampyrus colonies revealed by Corbet and Hills therefore most of trees grown here are spaced (1992) had totals of 100,000 individuals in year closely and were dense. The dense tree canopies 1920 from Philippines along with its conspecific P. prevent the light from penetrating downwards and giganteus. Recently this population has declined to thus create an ideal dark situation for the roosting of 500-1000 (Mickleburgh et al., 1992). The current Indian Flying Fox along with water seepage from largest aggregation of P. vampyrus consists of more adjoining water body. The multiple factors, including than 15,000 individuals in Borneo and 9,000-21,000 undisturbed protected forest pockets, moist dark low on the island of Palau Rambut (Kunz and Jones, light areas with impenetrable canopies of tall trees, 2000). along with adjoining agricultural and fruit orchards added to the best environmental circumstances for Over 6000 individuals of Indian Flying Fox colony luring high numbers of Indian Flying Fox to roost was reported in Nallur near Chennai, Tamil Nadu and breed. (Smith, 1998). Khan (1985) claims the largest colony of IFF in Bangladesh with 2500 individual As per a rough count, we also noted that every fifth bats. Blincow (2000) reported huge figures of about or sixth bat carried a single young baby (Image 8) 50,000 bats in Bundala, Sri Lanka. The largest and in rare cases two young ones, estimating counts colony mentioned in year 2006, had over 5000 to over 1500-1800 babies. Therefore arriving to a Indian Flying Foxes roosting on three Ficus trees at final conclusion, the result includes adult bats along Limkheda, Dahod District, Gujarat State (Singh, with young ones to an estimate of about 11,000 2013). bats roosting in the colony. Such numbers have apparently never been reported for Indian Flying Fox The present large congregation built up of Indian congregations. It is so far one of the largest Flying Fox (Image 6 & 7) at the Targol Dam site roosting colonies of IFF in the entire region and may might be the result of rising favorable conditions at be one of the largest recorded roosting sites of the site along with the other possibility of a nearer Indian Flying Fox in Gujarat State. bat colony disturbed and hence migrated to the present site. It is very difficult to end up in concrete Acknowledgement assumption without any authentic past data about We are very thankful to Pritesh Patel and Reshma other Indian Flying Fox roosting colonies from the Solanki for great help and accompanying in field entire area. work. Special thanks to Dy. Conservator of Forest, Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Vadodara and Mr. We made some inquiries with few locals and forest Parmar, Forester of Targol, JWS, without whose officials about the origin and any other sites of permission this study and work in the sanctuary Indian Flying Fox colony, perception of the locals area would not have been possible. towards the roosting of bats and its impacts. As per the opinion of local villagers and nearer residents, References especially forest staff and irrigation department- Bates, P.J.J. and D.L. Harrison (1997). Bats of the “this colony is one of the oldest colonies in the area Indian Subcontinent. Harrison Zoological Museum but we have observed higher numbers of bats in the Publication, Seven oaks, Kent 258pp. colony this year only”. Blincow J., (2000). Trip report: Sri Lanka, 22-28 Pandya and Oza (1998) listed five sites of roosting October 2000. Available from http:// colony (Shivrajpur, Jambughoda, Jaban, Targol and atschool.eduweb.co.ukjblincow/triplist/srilanka.htm th Pipla) during the study of biodiversity of the [10 June 2013]. Sanctuary, whereas Padate (2006) listed only three roosting colonies (Shivrajpur, Jambughoda and Champion, H.G. and S.K. Seth (1968). A revised Targol). The reason for not listing other two survey of the forest types of India. Manager of roosting sites by Padate (2006) might be due to the Publication, Government of India, New Delhi, 404 pp. roosting colonies at Jaban and Pipla were disturbed/ Corbet, C.B. & J.E. Hill (1992). The mammals of the destroyed or shifted elsewhere. At present, we were Indomalayan region: a systematic review. Oxford able to search four roosting colonies namely, University Press, Oxford, 488 pp. Talawadi, Jambughoda, Jaban and Targol, and were
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 7 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 7 Devkar, R., P. Patel and K. Upadhyay (2013). Gosford, New-South-Wales. Wildlife Research 18: 111– Present scenario and possible threats to the 124. Microchiropteran Bats near Jambughoda Wildlife Parry-Jones, K.A. and M.L. Augee (2001). Factors Sanctuary, Gujarat. Small Mammal Mail, Newsletter affecting the occupation of a colony site in Sydney, New 5(1):28-31. South Wales by the Grey-headed Flying-fox, Pteropus Eby, P. (1996). Interactions between The Grey- poliocephalus (Pteropodidae). Australian Ecology 26: headed Flying-Fox, Pteropus poliocephalus (Chiroptera: 47–55. Pteropodidae) and Its Diet Plants - Seasonal Rainey W.E. and E.D. Pierson (1992). Distribution Movements and Seed Dispersal. Dissertation, University of Pacific island flying foxes. In: Wilson D.E. and of New England, Armidale. Graham G.L. (eds.), Pacific island flying foxes: Holmes, J.L. (2002). Roosting ecology of the grey- proceedings of an international conservation headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus: spatial conference. U.S. Fish and Wildllife Survey Biology distribution in a summer camp. Ph D Thesis. The Rept., 90(23): 111-121. University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Simmons, N.B. (2005). Order Chiroptera. Pp. Khan R. (1985). Mammals of Bangladesh. Nazma 312-529 in: Mammal species of the World: a Reza, Dhaka, 92 pp. taxonomic and geographic reference, Third Edition, Volume 1 (D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder, eds.). Johns Krystufek, B. (2009). On the Indian Flying Fox (P. Hopkins University Press. giganteus) colony in Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Sri Lanka. Hystrix It. Journal of Mammals 20 (1): 29-35 Singh, H.S. (2013). Mammals in Gujarat. Gujarat Forest Department and Gujarat Biodiversity Board, Kunz, T.H. and D.P. Jones (2000). Pteropus Gandhinagar, 299 pp. vampyrus. American Society of Mammalogists. Mammalian Species, 642: 1-6. Smith A.B. (1998). Some notes on roosting behaviour in the Indian giant flying fox, Pteropus giganteus Marimuthu, G. (1988). The sacred Flying Fox of giganteus, (Brünnich, 1782) in a Banyan tree (Ficus India. Bats 6: 10–11. benghalensis, Linnaeus, 1758) near Chenniay Nallur, Mickleburgh S.P., A.M. Hutson and P.A. Racey Tamil Nadu, India. The University of Hull. Unpublished (1992). Old World fruit bats. An action plan for their Ph.D. Thesis, 159 pp. conservation. IUCN, Gland, 252 pp. Srinivasulu, C., P.A. Racey and S. Mistry (2010). A Molur, S., C. Srinivasulu, P. Bates & C. Francis key to the bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of South Asia. (2008). Pteropus giganteus. The IUCN Red List of Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(7): 1001-1076. Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. Vendan, S.E. (2003). Roost and diet selection in the
Nelson, J.E.W. (1965). Movements of Australian Williams, N.S.G., M.J. McDonnell, G.K. Phelan, L.D. Flying Foxes (Pteropodidae: Megachiroptera). Australian Keim and R.V.D. Ree (2006). Range expansion due Journal of Zoology 13: 53–73. to urbanization: Increased food resources attract Grey- Nowak, R.M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. headed Flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) to Vol. 1. 6th Edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Melbourne. Australian Ecology 31: 190–198. London 224pp.
Padate, G. (2006). Ecological Faunal Diversity Study of Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Final Report, Faculty of Science, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002. Submitted: Gujarat Forest Department, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 90pp.
Pandya, T.M. and G.M. Oza (1998). Bioregion Common Property Resource Management Studies. International Society of Naturalists, Vadodara, India. 197pp. Parry-Jones, K.A. and M.L. Augee (1991). Food Selection by Grey-Headed Flying Foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) occupying a summer colony site near
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 8 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 8 Records of roosting sites of Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich, 1782) from Madhya Pradesh, India S.S. Talmale*
Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich), commonly known as Indian Flying fox are colonial in habit and roost on large trees, and are found throughout the Indian subcontinent. The colony size is reported to be between hundreds to several thousand individuals and also varies seasonally (Bates and Harrison, 1997). As per IUCN Red List (Version 2014.1) this species is categorized as Least Concern (Molur et al, 2008) and listed as vermin under Schedule V of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended upto 2006). This species is also listed on Appendix II of CITES (valid from 12 June 2013).
While conducting surveys to study the small mammals of Madhya Pradesh, the districts of Anuppur, Image 1. Diurnal roost of Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus, on Betul, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Eucalyptus sp. at Lapta, Anuppur district, M.P. Dindori, Khandwa, Hoshangabad, Shahdol, Shivpuri, Singhori Wildlife Sanctuary (Raisen Dist.), Veerangana Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary (Damoh Dist.), Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (Sagar, Damoh and Narsinghpur Dists.) were surveyed from November 2010 to January 2014. A total of 27 roosting sites of Indian Flying fox, Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich) were recorded from 9 districts of Madhya Pradesh (Table 1, Image 1). Most of the locations are in villages or towns and some are in the agricultural fields near villages. There are possibilities of small sized roosting sites (10 to 50 individuals) which might act as Image 2. Indian Flying Fox, Pteropus giganteus electrocuted on live high tension electric wire at Jawar village, Khandwa district, M. P. temporary roosting site for small scale local migrations. All the size was about 30 individuals and electrocuted by high tension live roosting sites recorded here were at a later date the population was electric wire in the rural as well as visited only once during the recorded to be more than 50 in the urban areas were also survey except the roost recorded individuals. Therefore it is recorded (Table 2, Image 2). at Bhagdei village in Singhori confirmed that the roost is Wildlife Sanctuary, Raisen district. permanent and some individuals This location was visited on * may migrate seasonally to nearby Zoological Survey of India, 10.12.2010 and 22.02.2012. At Central Zone Regional Centre, localities. One or two individuals Vijaynagar, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. the first instance the population Email: [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 9 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 9 Table 1: Detail account on the roosting sites of Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich) observed in Madhya Pradesh, India
Sl. Name of locality Date of Name of Approximat Lattitude, Longitude No. observation Tree on roost e roost size & Altitude observed 1 Bhagdehi vill. In Singhori Wildlife 10.12.2010 & unknown 50+ N 23°06.596' Sanctuary, Raisen District 22.02.2012 E 078°15.229' 1191 ft. 2 Murgi Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Betul, Betul 07.10.2012 Eucalyptus sp. 1000+ N 21°54.554' District (on five trees) E 077°54.327' 2274 ft. 3 Kesala on Betul-Hoshangabad 07.10.2012 Albizia procera 1000+ N 22°28.551' Road (NH-69), Betul District E 077°50.358' 1544 ft. 4 Dolariya, Hoshangabad District 08.10.2012 Mangifera indica 10 N 22°35.434' E 077°38.036' 1005 ft. 5 Khamaria (Gotegaon-Jabalpur road), 12.10.2012 Terminalia sp. 200+ N 23°05.582' Narsinghpur District E 079°32.888' 1226 ft. 7 Lapta village, Anuppur-Vyankatnagar 16.02.2013 Eucalyptus sp. 300 + N 22°58.907' road, Anuppur District (Three trees) E 081°53.091' 1826 ft. 8 Dhangawa (Poorvi), Anuppur District 16.02.2013 Mangifera indica 500 + N 23°01.812' 081°50.216' 1766 ft. 9 Kotma, on Anuppur-Manendragarh 17.02.2013 Kadam, 25 N 23°12.675' road, Anuppur District Neolamarckia 081°58.397' cadamba 1782 ft. 10 Pushprajgarh (Rajendragram) on 19.02.2013 Eucalyptus sp. 100 N 22°56.049' Amarkantak road, Anuppur District (3-4 trees) 081°36.514' 2742 ft. 11 Lilatola, on Rajendragram-Dindori 21.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 100 22°55.571' Road, Anuppur District religiosa 081°24.283' 2649 ft. 12 Kachharimal village, Shahapura-Umaria 15.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 300 + N 23°19.443' road, Dindori District religiosa E 080°40.585' 2087 ft. 13 16 kms. from Shahapura near 22.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 200 N 23°03.929' Gram Pindarai on Shahapura- Mandla religiosa E 080°40.951' road, Dindori District 2021 ft. 14 Dungaria (Amera) on Shahapura- 22.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 50 N 23°05.112' Dindori road (SH22), Dindori District religiosa E 080°49.804' 2246 ft. 15 Amarpur, Dindori District 23.02.2013 Eucalyptus sp. 500+ N 22°47.281' (2 trees) E 080°57.645' 2325 ft. 16 Chhanta, Dindori District 23.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 100 N 22°51.208' religiosa E 081°05.926' 2431 ft. 17 Bilha village, Dindori District 24.02.2013 Group of trees 200 N 23°14.155' Khirni, Mimusops E 080°57.561' hexandra and 2835 ft. Peepal, Ficus religiosa 18 Bondar, two kms. from Sunpuri on 25.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 150+ N 22°49.289' Bajag Road, Dindori District religiosa E 081°15.484' 2521 ft. 19 Kosamdih on Sunpuri- Bajag road, 25.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 500+ N 22°47.057' Dindori District religiosa E 081°17.300' 2526 ft. 20 Bajag, Dindori District 25.02.2013 Eucalyptus sp. 500+ N 22°40.417' (on 5 trees) E 081°20.984' 2590 ft. 21 Lalpur on Bajag-Gadasarai Road, 25.02.2013 Peepal, Ficus 50+ N 22°46.617' Dindori District religiosa E 081°20.106' 2507 ft.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 10 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 10 Sl. Name of locality Date of Name of Approxim Lattitude, No. observation Tree on roost ate roost Longitude & observed size Altitude 22 Khirala village (Kabrasthan), Khandwa 17.10.2013 Banyan, Ficus 250+ N 21°28.288’ District benghalensis E 076°17.382’ 2092 ft. 23 Khandwa Railway colony, Khandwa 18.10.2013 Tamarind, Tamarindus 500+ N 21°49.700’ District indica E 076°21.151’ 1045 ft. 24 Nimbola, Burhanpur District 20.10.2013 Peepal, Ficus religiosa 200+ N 21°22.409’ E 076°15.493’ 869 ft. 25 Dhulkot, Burhanpur District 23.10.2013 Banyan, Ficus 200+ N 21°29.607’ benghalensis E 076°10.457’ 1646 ft 26 Burhanpur, Burhanpur District 24.10.2013 Peepal, Ficus religiosa 100+ N 21°18.725’ E 076°13.769’ 760 ft. 27 Bhagaura vill. on Shivpuri-Jhansi Road, 08.01. 2014 Banyan, Ficus 200+ N 25°25.133' Shivpuri District benghalensis E 077°45.644' 1305 ft.
In addition to the roosting sites Table 2: Details of dead specimens of Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich) reported (Table 1), there were electrocuted by high tension live electric wire recorded in Madhya Pradesh, earlier reports of this species from India Madhya Pradesh (Bates and Sl. Name of locality Date of No. of Lattitude, Harrison, 1997) namely from the No. observation individu Longitude districts of Morar, Bhind, als & Altitude Sabalgarh, Sheopore, Guna, 1 Chikhalmau village 03.10.2012 One N 22°11.546' Chachora, Agar Malwa, Agar, near Junnardev, E 078°35.298' Gwalior, Mukhi, Supkhar, Chhindwara District 2534 ft. 2 Damua, Chhindwara District 03.10.2012 One N 22°11.380' Balaghat, Sohagpur, Narsingarh, E 078°27.578' Ouda, Sonawanee, Jabalpur and 2570 ft. Sehore shows that the population 3 Sohagpur, Hoshangabad 12.10.2012 One N 22°42.010' of Pteropus giganteus is District E 078°12.128' widespread throughout the state. 1069 ft. 4 Jawar village, Khandwa 18.10.2013 Two N 21°55.747’ District E 076°26.582’ Acknowledgements 1038 ft. The author is grateful to Dr. K. Venkatraman, Director, Zoological References Survey of India, Kolkata and Dr. S. Bates, P.J.J. and D.L. Harrison Sambath, Scientist-C & Officer-in- (1997). Bats of the Indian Charge, ZSI, CZRC, Jabalpur for the Subcontinent. Harrison facilities and encouragement. Zoological Museum Publication, Thanks are due to the Principal Seven oaks, Kent 258pp. Chief Conservator of Forests, Bhopal for permission to conduct survey of Molur, S., C. Srinivasulu, P. the areas and provide facilities and Bates & C. Francis (2008). accommodation during the survey. Pteropus giganteus. In: IUCN 2014. He is also thankful to Shri. M. E. IUCN Red List of Threatened Limje, photographer and Shri. Species. Version 2014.1. Ramdayal Patel, Collection Tender
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 11 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 11 Interaction of Indian Flying Foxes Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich, 1782) with the plant species in the Lower Brahmaputra Valley of Assam Azad Ali
Abstract Table 1: Roosting tree species of Pteropus giganteus from Lower The present study was aimed to Brahmaputra Valley of Assam identify the various roosting trees and food plant species used by Family Common names Scientific names the Indian flying foxes P. Krishnasura jatio Peltophorum pterocarpum giganteus in Assam. The study Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo was mainly carried out in the lower reach of the Brahmaputra Krishnasura Delonix regia Fabaceae Valley of Assam particularly in the Teteli Tamarindus indica Dhubri district (25°-27° North Radhasura Caesalpania pulcherrima latitude and 89°-91° East Siris /Rain tree Albizia saman latitude), the westernmost part of Assam. A total of 30 different Tamul/Betel nut Areca catechu Arecaceae roosting tree species and 51 Fish tail palm Caryota urens different types of food plants were Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus found associated with the Indian Myrtaceae Jamu Syzygium cumini flying foxes (P. giganteus) in the Madhurium Psidium guajava Lower Brahmaputra Valley (LBV) of Assam. Malvaceae Simalu Bombax ceiba Anacardiaceae Aam/Mango Mangifera indica Introduction Poaceae Bah/bamboo Bambusa sp. The role of megachiropterans or Meliaceae Neem Azadirachta indica Old World fruit bats is well recognized in the regeneration of Ahot Ficus religiosa the forest as these bats are well Bot Ficus benghalensis Moraceae known for seed dispersal and Jagya Dimaru Ficus racemosa pollination. In India, three fruit Kothal/Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus bat species are very common and among these, Indian flying fox Rubiaceae Kadom Neolamarckia cadamba (Pteropus giganteus Brunnich, Apocynaceae Sotiona Alstonia scholaris 1782) is ubiquitous. Sinha (1999) has described few lines on Debadaru Polyalthiya longifolia Annonaceae biology and feeding habit of P. Mewa/Ateshfol Annona squamosa giganteus in his records of the Combretaceae Arjun Terminalia arjuna Zoological Survey of India. Dipterocarpaceae Sal Shorea robusta Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) is the largest fruit bat Euphorbiaceae Velkor Trewia nudiflora species of Assam of the Order- Rutaceae Bel Aegle marmelos Chiroptera, Suborder- Lamiaceae Segun/Teak Tectona grandis Megachiroptera and Family- Gamari Gmelina arborea Pteropodidae. It is an exclusively plant dependent bat species (Ali, Phyllanthaceae Amlakhu Phyllanthus emblica 2012). Marshall, 1985 also quoted that fruit bats feed almost deciduous and Assam Valley semi- exclusively on plants, taking floral evergreen forest types. However resources (largely nectar and evergreen trees were also used pollen but also petals and bracts), for roosting purposes in the study I/C: Bat Research and Conservation and fruits and often seeds and areas (Ali, 2013). For food, P. Division (BRCD), Coordinator, leaves. In the present study, all giganteus individuals of Assam Biodiversity and Ecological Research have shown their interest in 51 Centre (BERC); total 30 different roosting tree Assistant Professor and Head, species have been identified. plant species of 35 genera and 24 Department of Zoology, B. N. College, Most of the roosting trees were of families. Dhubri, Assam. East Himalayan moist mixed
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 12 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 12 Table 2: List of Food Plants and food items of Pteropus giganteus found in the Lower Brahmaputra Valley of Assam.
Family Common names (Assamese) Scientific names Parts consumed Tamul Areca catechu Blossom & Flower Arecaceae Naricol Cocos nucifera Flower Khejur Phoenix dactylifera Flower and fruit Athiya kol/Vimkol Musa balbisiana Flower nectar &fruit Kashkol Musa paradisiaca Flower nectar Monohor kol Musa sapientum Flower nectar &fruit Musaceae Chenichampa kol Musa champa Flower nectar &fruit Malbhog kol Musa velutina Flower nectar &fruit Jahaji col Musa acuminata Flower nectar &fruit Bot Ficus benghalensis Ripe figs Kathalpatiabor Ficus curtipes Ripe figs Silubor Ficus retusa Ripe figs Ahot Ficus religiosa Ripe figs Khokshadimaru Ficus hispida Ripe figs Moraceae Ahotjatiya Ficus infectoria Ripe figs Athabor Ficus elastica Ripe figs Kathal Artocarpus heterophyllus Ripe fruit Jagya Dimaru Ficus racemosa Ripe figs Somkathal Artocarpus chaplasha Ripe fruit Atlas/Mewa Anona reticulata Ripe fruit Annonaceae Debadaru Polyalthiya longifolia Ripe fruit Amara Spondias pinnata Ripe fruit Anacardiaceae Mango/Aam Mangifera indica Blossom and fruit Modhurium/Guava Psidium guajava Blossom & Ripe fruit Borjamu Syzygium cumini Flower & Ripe fruit Myrtaceae Khudjamu Calyptranthes cuspidata Flower & Ripe fruit Eucalyptus Eucalyptus sp. Flower Mohaneem Azadirachta indica Ripe fruit Meliaceae Ghoraneem Melia azedarach Ripe fruit Bogori Ziziphus jujuba Blossom & Ripe fruit Rhamnaceae Bilati bogori Ziziphus vulgaris Blossom & Ripe fruit Sapindaceae Lechu Litchi chinensis Ripe fruit Malvaceae Simalu Bombax ceiba Flower Caricaceae Omita Carica papaya Flower & fruit Dilleniaceae Outenga Dillenia indica Flower Rudrakhya Elaeocarpus sphaericus Ripe fruit Elaeocarpaceae Jalphai Elaeocarpus floribundus Ripe fruit Oxalidaceae Kordoi Averrhoa carambola Ripe fruit Combretaceae Silikha Terminalia chebula Ripe fruit Phyllanthaceae Letuku Baccaurea ramiflora Ripe fruit Salicaceae Poniyal Flacourtia jangomas Flower Proteaceae Silver oak Grevillea robusta Flower Modar Erythrina variegata Flower Fabaceae Siris/Rain tree Albizia saman Flower and leaves Teteli Tamarindus indica Leaves and fruit Chapota Manilkara zapota Ripe fruit Sapotaceae Bokul Mimusops elengi Ripe fruit Rosaceae Plum Prunus armeniaca Ripe fruit Rubiaceae Kadam Neolamarckia cadamba Ripe fruit Vatkakrel Mimordica sp. Ripe ones Cucurbitaceae Kuavaturi Citrullus colocynthis Ripe fruit
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 13 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 13 Materials and Methods References: The studies on the roosting trees and feeding trees Ali, A. (2012). Roosting ecology of Indian Flying were carried out independently at the roosting sites Fox (Pteropus giganteus) colonies in the western and foraging areas. For identification and naming of part of Assam with special reference to their plants species botanical guide book (Borah, 2003) conservation. Small Mammal Mail, Vol.4, No.2: was used. In a few cases, helps of local experts 35-36, Dec 2012. were also taken. Food plants were marked in the Ali, A. (2013). Indian Flying Fox of Assam. foraging areas with the help of naked eyes through Scholars’ Press, Germany. 136pp direct spot observation method during foraging hours. An indirect method of food plant Borah, A. (2003). A Hand Book of Scientific and identification was also used where partially Assamese names of Plants. Aaranyak, Guwahati, consumed food plant were collected from the floor of Assam, India. 71pp traditional roosting trees as fruit bats sometime returned with food items to their traditional roosts to Fujita, M.S. and M.D. Tuttle (1991). Flying foxes consume the food stuff at night. (Chiroptera Pteropodidae): Threatened animals of key ecological and economic importance. Cons. Biol. Results and Discussion 5 (4): 455 – 463. As mentioned above, a total of 30 different roosting tree species of 19 families along with 51 different Sinha, Y.P. (1999). Contribution of the knowledge species of food plants species under 25 families of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of North East Hills, were found associated with the P.giganteus in the India Records zool. Sur. India. Occ. Pap No. 174: Lower Brahmaputra Valley (LBV) of Assam. 1–52 Roosting trees are listed in the Table-1 and the food plants are shown in the Table-2 with their various parts consumed by the Indian Flying Foxes.
From the current study, it has been clearly came out that Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) is an exclusively plant dependent bat species and emerged as an example of excellent Plant-Animal relationship. Plant species (Table-2) must have evolutionary relationships with the P. giganteus for pollination cum seed dispersal purposes. Through their pollination and seed dispersal activities, they are definitely helping us in reforestation thereby balancing our degraded forest cover. Fujita and Tuttle (1991) also explained that due to the multifaceted ecological and economic roles of pteropodid bats, especially in reforestation, their conservation and management must be considered an essential element of sustainable development planning for tropical forests.
Acknowledgements Author wants to offer his heartiest thanks to Prof. T.C. Deka, Dr. R. Deka, Emani, Protiva, all the forest officials & police personnel of Guwahati and Dhubri, D.F.O. Campus and D.C. Campus respectively and all the members of “Biodiversity and Ecological Research Centre (BERC)”, “Bat Research and Conservation Division (BRCD)” and “Bat Assessment Troop (BAT)” for their kind support and help during survey periods.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 14 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 14 Population and Conservation status of the Indian Flying Fox roost in Itiadoh dam, Maharashtra S.V. Bhandarkar1* and G.T. Paliwal2
Abstract Only few ecological studies on Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus (Brunnich, 1782) (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) were carried out in India. According to IUCN Red List, this species is Least Concern. There is no baseline data available for this species from eastern vidarbha region of Maharashtra. In the present investigation authors reports population trend, monitoring and conservation status of roost of this species in Itiadoh Dam situated at Gondia district of eastern Vidarbha, Maharashtra. The observation disclosed that the population Indian Flying Fox Juvenile rescued. Photo by Mithun Chavan trend is gradually increasing and found no special threat to this site and it is naturally conserved.
Introduction Bats are the second most specious group of mammals, after rodents. Approximately 1117 species of living bats make up around 20% of all known living mammal species. In some tropical areas, there are more species of bats than of all other kinds of mammals combined (Hill and Smith, 1984; Nowak, 1991; Vaughan et al., 2000). India has more than 11% of the world’s bats including 13 fruit bats and 101 insectivorous bats (Wilson Old Gadhavi river (Stagnant) view of roosting site and Reeder, 2005). Pakistan and Sri Lanka (Molur et crucial with the accelerating rate al., 2008). Pteropus giganteus is of habitat destruction (Wilson & Fruit bats play an essential role as a colonial species, which roosts in Engbring, 1992). Although the forest pollinators and seed large trees like Ficus IUCN Red List has classified dispersers. According to benghalensis, Eucalyptus Indian fruit bat as Least Concern, Mickleburgh et al., (1992), the globulus, Mangifera indica and the number of individuals are Pteropus giganteus, Cynopterus Tamarindus indica (Vendan, decreasing consistently sphinx and Rousettus leschenaultii 2003). (Venkatesan, 2007), primarily due visited over 114 plant species. to habitat loss and hunting. Molur (2007), Venkatesan (2007), Due to poor knowledge about Accordingly, some populations are Andavan et al., (2008), Ali their status in Maharashtra becoming locally Threatened (2010), Acharya (2008), Santosh particularly in eastern Vidarbha, (IUCN, 2012). Moreover, et al., (2006) and Chakravarthy we collected population data and knowledge about their (2007) have documented status their roosting sites from eastern of fruit bats in India. Apart from Vidarbha region. Few ecological 1* India this species is also studies of fruit bats have been Dept. of Zoology, M.B. Patel College, distributed in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Deori Dist. Gondia, MS carried out in the Indian 2Dept. of Zoology, S.S. Jaiswal College, China, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, subcontinent, but are now more Arjuni/Mor. Dist. Gondia, MS *Email: [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 15 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 15 Table 1. Population size of Pteropus giganteus in Itiadoh Dam giganteus at Itiadoh dam was (20047’56.80” N, 800 09’56.18 E) carried out. Fluctuations in numbers of roosting animals at Sr. Month Year Population Status the sites were recorded. No. size 1 April 2010 410 Decreased Material and Method: Study Site 2 April 2011 516 Increasing The present observation was 3 April 2012 556 Increasing carried out near the Itiadoh Dam 4 April 2013 645 Increasing reservoir. Itiadoh Dam is 5 April/May 2014 692 Increased constructed on Gadhavi River near Gothangaon village. This water body is a popular picnic spot. This is one of the biggest lakes in Bhandara-Gondia district. The observed bat roost is at 20047’56.80” N, 800 09’56.18 E in the dense vegetation surrounded to stagnant water body of old stream of Gadhavi River.
Methodology To study the population size of the Indian flying foxes in Itiadoh dam roosting site, bats were regularly counted from May 2010 until April 2014. The population was counted prior to evening flight. Direct roost count method was followed to estimate the population size of the colony (Barlow, 1999). In monsoon season the direct counting was Satellite view of roosting site (S1) difficult because of dense vegetation and also because of marginal area of the site was full of stagnant old river water. Therefore it was easy to count all the bats prior to evening flight. Most of the observations were done with the naked eyes. At times binoculars were used to spot out the bats.
Result and Discussion: In the present observation the bats were entangled to the branches of Terminalia arjuna. In the studay area bats were found to be roosted in seven trees. The dense vegetation was a challenge to estimate the population size. But due to their day sound at roosts helped to orient them. Observing IFF roost by authors with volunteers The observation and monitoring distribution, nesting and roosting important for the conservation of was started from the May 2010 to habits is rudimentary (Pierson & P. giganteus populations. The April, 2014. The population of the Rainey, 1992). Hence, present investigation was carried Itiadoh Dam roosting site was ca. recognizing roost sites and out from last five years and 410 in the month of May, 2010. protecting such areas are observations on the roost of P. In 2011 and 2012, population of
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 16 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 16 the site showed some increase and recorded as 516 and 556 respectively. In the 2013 it further increased and showed 645. In the recent population count carried out in the month of April 2014 numbers has been found to be 692. The trend of population size of the roost showed an increasing trend during the study period (Table.1). The colony preferred to roost on Terminalia arjuna. The study area also had Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Mangifera indica, Ficus racemosa, Albizia lebbeck, etc in the vicinity. In the cold season they preferred Albizia tree.
This species is categorized as Indian Flying Fox roost on Termnalia arjuna Least Concern under the Red List of threatened species of IUCN but its population is declining alarmingly due to habitat degradation (IUCN, 2011). Some local threats of this species observed are cutting down of roosting trees for road expansion or other purposes.
The Itiadoh dam remains boon for the roosting organism in the summer season. It is observed that, in dusk the flock migrate towards the Itiadoh open water for drink, they touch the water surface while flight and return to their roost. But they forage out towards west and northern region as they always found. It is note worthy that the population trend is showing an increasing trend in Indian Flying Fox flock at dusk the study area compared to other sites in Bhandara district acute mass death was observed Despite the importance of this (Bhandarkar and Paliwal, 2013b). due to extreme heat wave in the fruit bat species, virtually no The site is far away from the year 2009 that resulted in sudden baseline population data or status human habitation but some time decline in the population. In the monitoring exists for any of the they was disturbance from the May 11, 2009 many Indian flying flying foxes along with the tourists. The ban on activities by foxes found dead in some sites of Pteropus giganteus. Database tourists will help to manage this eastern Vidarbha due to extreme information came out from study population and conserve heat wave (Bhandarkar and can be useful for policy makers them.Awareness on conservation Paliwal, 2013a). for planning, better conservation- of bats is needed for the current management programmes. At the generation (Mahanto et al., 2012). Ecologically fruit bats are highly same future researcher will get According to some anecdotal important species as they are one the chance to compare these set information as well as Mr. of the best pollinators and seed of data with their studies (Ali, Narayanpatil Dongarwar, Hon. dispersers in tropical forests 2010). Wildlife Warden stated that the throughout the world (Marshall, population of this bat was more 1983). This helps in maintaining than thousand in this site about forest diversity as well as forest five to six year ago. But the regeneration (Cox et al., 1992).
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 17 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 17 Acknowledgments Molur, S., C. Srinivasulu, P. Bates, and C. Francis I would like to offer my thanks to volunteers of (2008). Pteropus giganteus. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List SENSE and Aranyayatri Wildlife Foundation. Authors of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. are thankful to Mr. Bhimsenpatil Dongarwar for their
Bhandarkar S.V. and G.T. Paliwal (2013a). Preliminary Santosh W.G., C.M. Eldrich, S. Seena and K.R. Sridhar observation on Acute Mass Death of Indian Flying Fox in (2006). Observations on guano and bolus of Indian flying Eastern Maharashtra India. Journal of Science Information. fox, Pteropus giganteus . Current Science 90 (2): 160-162. Special issue 6. pp 28-29. Vaughan, T., J. Ryan and N. Czaplewski. (2000). Bhandarkar S.V. and G.T. Paliwal (2013b). Ecology of Mammalogy, 4th Editon. Toronto: Brooks Cole. Indian Flying Foxes in Eastern Vidarbha region with reference to their conservation efforts. Indian Stream Vendan S.E. and B. Kaleeswaran (2011). Plant Research Journal. Special issue. Pp 96-99. dispersal by Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus in Madurai region, India. Elixir Bio. Div. 30, pp1810-1813. Brunnich, M.T. (1782). Dyrenes Historie or Dyre- Samlingen udi Universitetets Natu-Theater. Vol.1. Nico-laus Venkatesan, A. (2007). Status of the Indian Flying fox Moller, Kiobenhavn. (Pteropus giganteus) in Bengaluru. BAT NET-CCINSA Newletter, 8 (1): 13-15. Chakravarthy, A.K. (2007). Observations on roosts of Indian flying fox, Pteropus giganteus in Karnataka. Bat Net Wilson, D. and J. Enbring (1992). Status of the fruit Newletter 8 (1-2): 10. bat, Pteropus samoensis, in Samoa. U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, DC. 47 Cox, P.A., T. Elmiqvist, E.D. Pierson and W.E. Rainey pp. (1992). Flying foxes as pollinators and seed dispersers in Pacific Island ecosystems. U. S. Fish Wildlife. Serv. Biol. Wilson, D.E. and D.M. Reeder (2005). Mammal species Rep. 90 (23): 18-23. of the World, 3rd Editon, Johns Hopkins University Press, Batimore, MD. Hill, J. and J. Smith (1984). Bats: A Natural History. Austin: University of Texas Press.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, (2011). www.iucnredlist.org, downloaded on 5 May 2012.
Mahanto, A.K., V. Vijaykumar and N. Patel (2012). Indian flying fox in Hamirsir Lake, Bhuj city needs conservation Attention. Current Science, Vol.103-4, 354-355.
Marshall, A.G. (1983). Bats, Flowers and Fruits: evolutionary relationships in the Old World. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 20: 115-135.
Mickleburgh, S.P., A.M. Hutson and P.A. Racey (1992). Old world fruit Bats. An action plan for their conservation. International Union for conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Chiroptera Specialist Group (IUCN/SSC). Gland, Switzerland, 252pp.
Molur, S. (2007). Project Pterocount-progress report-June 2007. BAT NET-CCINSA Newletter, 8 (1): 11-12.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 18 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 18 Successful One year completion of Small Mammals Hiking Programme in Kathmandu, Nepal Sabina Koirala
Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation (SMCRF) has been conducting “Small mammals Hiking” since June 15, 2013 in Kathmandu valley regularly on every second Saturday of each month. The main aim of this hiking programme is to motivate students of natural science (zoology, environment science, botany, forestry etc.) of different universities to take up research and promote conservation of small mammals as well as to make local people and other
nature lovers aware of small Hikers during Eighth “Small Mammals Hiking” in Nagarjun forest of mammals along with larger Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park - White-bellied Squirrel seen during the mammals of their areas. Hike
The visited area will be monitored for long time period and we hope that collected data helps for the habitat modeling of small mammals in future. This is our first effort to organize sucha program in Nepal. Most of our hiking is being lead by Hem Bahadur Katuwal and Dipendra Adhikari, SMCRF.
During hiking, we follow roads and trails slowly and visually and encounter mammals and signs like burrow, fecal matter and footprints. During hiking, small mammals like martens, squirrels, civets, bats, different species of rodents and burrows of pangolin have been recorded. White-bellied Squirrel, Orange-bellied Fresh burrow of pangolin seen during the hiking Himalayan Squirrel, Barking Deer Suryabinayak Community Forest, On behalf of whole SMCRF family, and Rhesus Macaque are parts of Nagrjun-Shivapuri I would like to thank all the frequently seen mammals during National Park, Machhegaun participants for their participation our hiking. Community Forest, Chovar- in the hiking and also anticipate Bagmati Corridor etc. where more their help for coming days for the Participants not only enjoy only than one hundred nature lovers conservation of least studied mammalian fauna, but also birds and students have participated. mammalian fauna, the Small butterflies and simply nature Mammals of Nepal. watching. Hiking programme of SMCRF is of special interest for university In this one year, we have students of natural science Small Mammals Conservation and successfully completed 11 hiking related to wildlife specially Research Foundation events in eight different places Balkhu, Kathmandu, Nepal students of zoology, forestry and Email: [email protected]/ like Bajrabarahi Forest, environmental science. [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 19 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 19 Unexpected death of Indian Flying Foxes Pteropus giganteus in Jahangirnagar University campus, Savar, Bangladesh Tahsinur Rahman Shihan*
Jahangirnagar University campus has an area of 700 acres which harbour a variety of plants and wildlife. This campus is situated 30 km away from Dhaka city. Important bat species recorded from the campus are the Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx), Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus), Indian Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus coromandra), Asiatic Greater Yellow House Bat (Scotophilus heathii) and Asiatic Lesser Yellow House Bat (Scotophilus kuhlii) (Akter et al, 2013).
It is very unexpected that every year a number of fruit bats die Death of Indian Flying Fox beside Mir Mosharrof Hossain Hall. due to electrocution. Mainly Indian Flying Foxes die due to their large size when they try to cross the unfolding high voltage electric supplier wires. An opportunistic survey done between 10 February 2014 to 03 May 2014 showed that during the study period a total of 14 dead flying foxes were recorded in eight different locations with in the campus.
In the campus two types of Death of Indian Flying Fox beside Social Science Faculty. electric supplier wires are used; one is 4 mm in diameter and Table: Number of death of Indian Flying Fox in different places of another is 8 mm in diameter. Jahanginagar University Campus Most of the cases the Flying foxes SL Observed place of death Date observed No. were found dead in the 4 mm 1. Near Auditorium 10/02/14 1 wire. The six parallel wires each 2. Beside Fozilatunnessa hall 15/02/14 1 are 12 inches far from another 3. Near Nabab Faizunnessa hall 25/02/14 1 settled 25 feet higher from the 4. Beside Social science faculty 28/02/14 5 ground. 5. Behind Biological faculty building 10/03/14 2 6. Beside cafeteria 13/03/14 1 Replacement of the old unfolding 7. Beside Mir Mosharrof Hossain Hall 17/03/14 1 4mm electric wires by folding 8. Beside Medial office 03/05/14 1 8mm wire may reduce the Total 14 fatality.
Reference Bangladesh. Small Mammal Mail *Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring --Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & and Conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai Akter, S., F. Rahman and M.A. RISCINSA 3 Volume 5, Number 1, National Park of Bangladesh Project Aziz (2013). Investigating the and B.Sc (Hons) Department of June 2013. least known small ammals of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: Jahangirnagar University campus, [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 20 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 20 Record of Endemic Malabar Spiny Tree mouse, Platacanthomys lasiurus Blyth 1859 from Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Kerala Divin Murukesh 1,2,3 & Anoop Das 2,3
The distribution of Malabar Spiny Tree Mouse, Platacanthomys lasiurus is restricted to the southern part of Western Ghats of India and classified as Vulnerable as per the IUCN Red List (Molur and Nameer 2008). The type locality P. lasiurus is Bonacord, Thiruvananthapuram (Blanford, 1888). The species have been reported Bonacord area, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary - Trivandrum District, Kerala, Upper Bhavani hills of the Nilgiris, Kariyanshola of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve - Tamil Nadu and Shimoga in Karnataka (reviewed in Jayson and Jayahari 2009). A detailed study of this endemic mammal Fig 1. Road kill of Platacanthomys lasiurus has been done by (Jayson 1996, Jayson and Jayahari 2009) and Highways cause the fragmentation Jayson (1996). Status, distribution, brought out the status and of the habitat which demonstrates food and feeding of Malabar Spiny distribution of P. lasiurus in the need for wildlife crossings Dormouse Platacanthomys lasiurus Kerala. over or underneath paths. This Blyth, (1859) in the Western Ghats of Kerala. KFRI Research report No 293, observation also substantiates the 119 pp The present note is to report the scarce information on fauna of occurrence of the P. lasiurus from this region and warrants further Mudappa, D., A. Kumar and R. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, actions to prevent the road kills Chellam (2001). Abundance and Nadukani, Vazhikkadavu Range, particularly at the Ghats roads in habitat selection of Malabar Spiny Kerala confirmed with a specimen Western Ghats, which can Dormouse in the rainforests of the by road kill (11’26’13.25, influence conservation priorities. southern Western Ghats, India. 76’2’42.81). The specimen It is envisaged that to create Current Science 80: 424-427 (Figure 1) was collected on awareness towards the drivers, 19.11.2009 as a part of study to and the need for constructing Molur, S. and P.O. Nameer (2008). Platacanthomys lasiurus. In: IUCN evaluate road kills, conducted in wildlife crossings, which could 2014. IUCN Red List of Threatened 11 km road cruising through ever play a crucial role in protecting green forests through State Species. Version 2014.1. the fauna.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 21 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 21 The Record of Elegant Water Shrew Nectogale elegans from Gaurishankar Conservation area, Nepal Sagar Dahal1,2, Kaustuv Raj Neupane1,2 and Giovanni Amori3
Abstract Nectogale elegans, the elegant water shrew also known as webbed foot water shrew was trapped at the waters of Tamakoshi in Dolakha. Snaring loops was set for fishing where this species was trapped which gives the account for its ecological characteristics. A dead specimen of Necogale elegans was found on 1 November 2010 at Lamabagar, Dolakha in the fast flowing river of Tamakoshi. Lamabagar is at the height of 1945m. It was trapped in the snaring loops kept for fishing in the night.
Introduction Nectogale elegans is a monotypic species found in the Oriental region of the world (Tate 1947). The Elegant Water Shrew is also found in the Himalayas and southeast Tibet, hence one of its other names, the Tibetan Water Shrew. (Corbet & Hill 1980). The elegant water shrew is distributed in China, India, Myanmar and Nepal (IUCN Red List). It is a Fig 1. Hind limb terrestrial mammal inhabits in temperate forest, wetlands, permanent river streams, creeks fast flowing cold water rivers. Leaf litter acts as the niche and habitat distribution ranges from 900 to 2270m (Molur et al. 2005). This feeds on aquatic insects and small fish (Jnawali et al. 2011). A specimen of Nectogale elegans was trapped before by Karan Bahadur Shah (personal communication) and Mukesh Kumar Chalise (personal communication). It has been recorded in Sagarmatha National Park, Makalu-Barun National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area and Rara National Park (Suwal et al. 1995). A possible occurrence of this species was mentioned in Gaurishankar Conservation Area (Basnet G. et al. 2009) which is now confirmed. The global status of this species is Least Concern, whereas in Nepal its Fig 2. Mouth and fore limb status is Data Deficient (Jnawali et al 2011). The South Asian status of this species is Near Threatened (Molur et al. 2005). CAMP report has estimated the decline in the qualitative and quantitative of habitat status by >10% in this 10 years due to human induced habitat alteration (Molur et al. 2005).
Recorded Area Gaurishankar Conservation Area is located between 85° 46.8' to 86° 34.8' E and 27° 34.2' to 28° 10' N. Fig 3. Fin like tails with hairs It is situated between Langtang National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. Physiographic zones ranges from mid hills to high mountains. The 1Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. altitudinal range varies from 968m. to 7,181m. The 2 Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation, total area is 2,179 sq. km. which includes 6 v.d.c.s New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal. 3CNR - Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Rome - Italy in Sindhupalchowk district, 14 v.d.c.s in Dolakha Email: 1,[email protected] district, and 2 v.d.c.s in Ramechaap. The major [email protected] and [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 22 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 22 forest, Upper temperate mixed forest (birch Rhododendron forest), Temperate mountain oak forest, East Himalayan oak forest, Juniperous Forest, Shrubland (Rhododendron anthopogan bushes), and moist alpine scrubs. (Basnet et. al.)
Result A dead specimen of Necogale elegans was found on 1 November 2010 at GPS location of N 27° 54.209" E 86° 12.237" Lamabagar, Dolakha in the fast Fig 4. Head & body measurement flowing river of Tamakoshi. Lamabagar is at the height of 1945m. It was trapped in the snaring loops kept for fishing in the night.
Morphometric measurement of the species are: Head & body: 12.1 cm Tail: 10.2cm Head: 1.8cm Hindlimb: 2.3cm Forelimb: 1.2cm Femur: 1.7cm Whisker: many Mouth: On ventral side Fig 5. Thread attached in the mouth Skin colour: dorsal side: Greyish black Ventral side: grey ash colored land cover types includes forest 34.98%, barren Sex: Female land 34.78%, bushes 9.5%, arable land 8.76% and grassland 8.6%. Water bodies in the form of rivers, Hindlimbs were larger than forelimbs and web like streams and lakes also form significant habitats for structure was well developed for swimming (Fig. 1). many aquatic and semi aquatic fauna of the area. The tail was hairy with fin like structure (Fig. 3). The main river systems are Tamakoshi, Bhotekoshi, The main food of the species is small fish, planktons Sunkoshi, Khimti khola, Likhu khola and several of found in the water. their tributaries. Tso Rolpa, Dudh Pokhari, Panch Pokhari and Kal Pokhari in Dolakha district, Bhairab References Kunda of Sindhupalchowk district, and Baula Pokhari Corbett, G. and J. Hill (1980). A World List of of Ramechhap district are some of the significant Mammalian Species. London & Ithaca: British Museum lentic water bodies of the area. (Natural History) Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. Basnet, G., H.S. Baral, R. Charmakar, B.K. Dalit, F. Biological diversity Kharel, K.B. Shah (2009). Scoping study to develop There are 16 forest types including subtropical to Gaurishankar into a protected area, a management alpine. Five hundred and sixty five species of flora is document by National Trust for Nature Conservation. recorded from the GCA, with 34 species of Jnawali, S.R., H.S. Baral, S. Lee, K.P. Acharya, G.P. mammals, 9 species of amphibians, 22 species of Updhya, M. Pandey, R. Shrestha, D. Joshi, B.R. reptiles which includes Jerdon’s pit viper, 16 species Lamichhane, J. Griffiths, A.P. Khatiwada, N. Subedi of fishes and 236 species of birds representing 36 and R. Amin. The Status of Nepal’s Mammals: The bird families. Eight species are protected by the National Red List Series, Department of National Parks and National Park Wildlife Conservation Act 2009 which Wildlife onservation Kathmandu, Nepal. Molur, S., C. Srinivasulu, B. Srinivasulu, S. Walker, includes 2 bird species, 19 species are listed in P.O. Nameer and Ravikumar (2005). Status of South CITES appendices, 9 species are listed in IUCN Red Asian Non Volant Small Mammals: Conservation List, 21 species are listed in National Red Data Book Assessment and Management Plan (C.A.M.P) Workshop (Basnet G. et. al.). Report. Zoo Outreach Organization/ CBSG-South Asia, Coimbatore, India. Pages 618. Vegetation Suwal, R., W.J.M. Verheugt and P. Yonzon (1995). Out of total 35 forest types as indentified by Enumeration of Mammals of Nepal. Biodiversity Profile Stainton (1972), the region has sixteen forest types. Project Publication No. 6. Department of National Parks and The main forest types found in the region are Wildlife Cnservation, Kathmandu. Tate, G. (1947). Mammals of Eastern Asia. New York: Chirpine forest, Schima castanopsis forest, Alnus MacMillan Company. forest, Pinus patula forest, Pinus wallichiana forest, Rhododendron forest, Quercus lanata forest, lower temterate oak forest (Quercus semicarpifolia forest), Lower temperate mixed broad leaved forest, Abies
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 23 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 23 Small mammal awareness programme for local communities in Tamil Nadu - a report Brawin Kumar*
In South Asia 17.3% of Rodentia are threatened with the risk of extinction as per IUCN Red List (www.iucnredlist.org). Rodents play a major role in the food chain (Sahoo and Bhattacharjee, 2012) and seed dispersal across vast distances is one of their major roles in the ecosystems (Janson et al., 2012). The importance of conserving rodents is not an easy concept to promote in developing countries (Alpin et al., 2003). Of the total mammal species in India, 64.77% are small mammals, many of them are less studied and under no protection (Kumar, 2014). There seem to be many on-going threats to the various small mammals in India, but the major threat may be the use of these animals by tribal and Bat photos in exhibition non-tribal communities as traditional medicine (Solavan et al., 2004; Padmanabhan and Sujana, 2008; Mahawar and Jaroli, 2008; Kumar and Iyer 2013). Based on a basic literature survey it can be said that mammals such as Indian Flying Fox, Indian Hare, hedgehogs, pangolins, five-striped palm squirrels and flying squirrels are being used. There is a need to fill the gap in conservation awareness of small mammals and to have a dialogue with the tribal communities, as they are the primary stakeholders.
To address this gap in small mammal conservation, various Group photo, Katteripatti village field-based small mammal outreach programmes were resources. Also, this initiative is a distribution, ecological conducted in Tamil Nadu, between small contribution to the significance and threats to the November 2013 - May 2014. The Convention on Biological Diversity target audiences. The second AICHI Target 1: By 2020, at the phase will include developing goal of this programme is to create awareness for youth latest, people are aware of the small mammal conservation clubs belonging to tribal communities values of biodiversity and the at school level and build capacity about the various amazing small steps they can take to conserve of the youth. The final phase of mammal species in India, and use them sustainably. the programme will be to identify particularly in Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats; work towards an The first phase of the programme attitude change in the has been initiated by imparting information about the small *Researcher, Zoo Outreach communities and ensure Organization, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. sustainable utilization of mammal populations, their Email: [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 24 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 24 conducted with children to learn about communication of bats. Bat posters were used to explain about the distribution, amazing facts and differences between the megachiropteran and microchiropteran bats. A colouring activity was conducted with the kids and various threats to flying bats were explained. A pledge was taken by the children to protect the bats in their region. Photos of all three hedgehogs were showed and details were provided for the Madras Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris). The students were not aware of the hedgehogs and many of them thought it to be a porcupine. Students asked questions about the various small mammals like During group discussion, Thenur village squirrels and shrews. The kids shared information about the use of small mammals in traditional medicine.
School level small mammal awareness programme 1. Small mammal awareness programmes A half day small mammal conservation awareness programme was conducted in Avvai Ashram, foothills of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tirunelveli on 13th January 2014 for school students (14-18 age) and teachers. Attitude assessment, bat video session and group discussion were organized on bats and hedgehog. Photos of small mammal were shown to the participants and they responded enthusiastically Temple bat colouring activity by mentioning the local names. site champions to conserve small 1. ACT India Foundation - Bat facts and information on mammals. Kodaikanal conservation of the flying fox was also provided. Data on giant A half-day session about bats and The first phase has already been hedgehogs was conducted in ACT squirrel species and their kick-started with 12 programmes India Foundation in Pannaikadu, respective distribution ranges was across seven districts of Tamil Kodaikanal on 17th November shared with the youngsters. The students enjoyed using the Zoo Nadu. Relevant methods such as 2013. Totally, 35 Paliyar tribal Outreach bat education kit and classroom as well as outdoor kids participated in this awareness activities using various field-based programme. General information learned about bat ecology, active learning tools were used about bats, their types, and behaviour and protection with a lot of zest. The seriousness was during these programmes. common bats in their region, bat broken by the audiovisual titled, behaviour and threats were Community level small explained using Zoo Outreach bat “Meet the World’s Largest Flying mammal awareness education packets. A group Fox” which the participants programme activity of ‘bat echolocation’ was enjoyed. The bat placard and
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 25 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 25 sighting the prickly-pokey hedgehogs. To further enhance their knowledge on hedgehogs, a wide range of information such as types, ecological significance was shared with the students.
4. Small mammal conservation education programme A half-day program on small mammal awareness was conducted on 30th April 2014 in a government school in Katteripatti in Kadayam, Tirunelveli District. Totally 29 school students participated. The program started with an attitude assessment activity in the school ground, followed by a group discussion on the various common small mammals around them. Common A young active student explaining about bats echolocation in Payir school facts about the common Indian hare and Pangolin were explained. posters proved to be a very useful agriculture was explained and Puzzle game focussing on small tool to teach the concepts in a various posters were used. Bat mammals were played with the short time. The youngsters made facts were explained using bat children. Photographs of bats creative illustrations of bats and puppet. The attractive Painted were showed and bat facts, bat rats based on the posters and Bat (Kerivoula picta) intrigued the behavior, importance were banners. All the drawings were audience and many of them explained using Zoo Outreach bat put up for display and all of them wanted to know more about this education packets. Bat posters got prizes. A final assessment to colourful member. were also displayed. Students understand the recall value of the took a pledge to protect the bats participants was conducted by 3. Bats and hedgehogs in their village and also the kids asking five relevant questions outreach programme tied rakhi to each other. An final relating to the content of the A half-day session on bats and assessment was carried out with programme. Most of them were hedgehogs was conducted on 21st the question and answer session. able to recall the information March 2014 in Kasturiba middle The programme concluded with a regarding flying fox and rodent school in Chennimalai in Erode video on the World’s Largest distribution and numbers. The District. The programme was Flying Fox. children assured that they would conducted to commemorate the protect the bat roost in their World Forest Day celebrations. 5. Berijam lake – Kodaikanal – campus and help them to survive. Information and facts about the bat session with school Indian Flying Fox and the Madras children 2. Bat photo exhibition Hedgehog were provided to the A one-hour outdoor session on A half-day bat photo exhibition children orally and an audiovisual bat was conducted on 18th May was conducted for the students on the giant flying foxes of 2014 in Berijam Lake in and staff of the Ayikudy Amar Andaman Islands was played. Kodaikanal. A total of 60 school Seva Sangam, Tenkasi on 23rd Two posters referring to bats’ role children from all over Tamil Nadu February 2014. Dr. G.S. Vijaya in pollination and one on common participated in this programme. Lakshmi (Department of bats around us were used to An introduction about bats, their Environmental Sciences, Sri educate the students. Bat ecological importance and types Paramakalyani Centre for education packets were used to were explained and the student’s Environmental Studies, M.S. explain bat biology, behaviour, role to protect the amazing University) inaugurated the bat locomotion, types, differences creature was explained through exhibition hall. The micro and between mega and games. These active learning megachiropteran bat photos were microchiropteran bats and tools proved to be very effective displayed. All the students from ecological significance. Totally 60 in getting the message across to this school visited and learnt students participated in the these school children and this about various bats. Bats’ session. The school students had ensured their complete importance in relation to been exposed to handling and involvement in the programme.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 26 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 26 Student took pledge to save the bats from threats. group came forward to present what they learnt Onlookers were also engrossed in the programme about bats. A group bat colouring activity was and shared feedback after the programme. conducted. A pledge was taken to save the bats from threats. Colourful bat photos were displayed Village level bat education programme inside the hall. All the youngsters were happy to 1. Nanalkulam village – bat conservation understand more and interested to join in the bat outreach programme monitoring walk conducted by Payir Trust in the near A one day bat conservation outreach programme future. was conducted in Naanalkulam village at foothills of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), Outreach programme for College student Tirunelveli on 07th April 2014 in collaboration with CSI Polytechnic college - small mammal Agastyamalai field-based community conservation awareness session centre of Ashoka Trust for Research on Ecology and A special programme for the World Forest Day was Environment. Totally 13 young kids from conducted in CSI Polytechnic college, Salem on 21st Nanalkulam village participated in this bat March 2014. This programme was organized by programme. The programme started with a video District Forest Office, Salem, Tamil Nadu. A talk introducing “extinction” with suitable examples. about threatened small mammals was delivered. A Attitude assessment was carried outside the total of 120 students from the college participated. community hall. Information on the common small An interactive session to convey information about mammals of KMTR was explained and the photos of the status, distribution and conservation importance common bats in this region were showcased. Zoo of rats, shrews, tree mouse, hedgehogs and tree Outreach bat education materials such as posters shrews was explained in the local language (Tamil) and booklets were used to explain the bat facts, was conducted. The students participated with a lot distribution, World’s largest and smallest bat, of rigour. locomotion, ecological importance and temple bats and threats. A group discussion was also conducted Programme for Organic farming community with the participants; team leaders from each group Kaanagam – bats our friends came forward and discussed the bat facts that had A half-day programme on bat conservation was been explained in the programme. A coloring conducted in “Kaanagam group” in Kadavur, Karur activity was conducted focusing on bats with the District, Tamil Nadu on 25th May 2014. Totally 45 children. All of them actively participated in this kids belonging to active organic farming families activity. The drawings provided for the coloring from all across Tamil Nadu participated. Programme activity had information on pollination, insect eating started with a bat puzzle. Information on common bats, temple bats and their conservation bats, role of flying fox in agriculture, bat ecology, significance. A small bat photo exhibition was set up echolocation were explained. This was followed by a inside the hall. This was the first programme on video about the world largest bat roosts. Also, the bats in that village with the youngsters. These kids children learned the two major types of bats and are the bat protectors of this village. Pledge was their basic identification. Various active learning taken by these kids to conserve the bat roosts in tools such as indoor and outdoor games, coloring their village temple. In future, these kids will be and interactive discussions were used with these involved in bat count and monthly monitoring bat kids. The programme concluded with the students roosts in this taluk as part of ATREE’s ongoing temple bat conservation project.
2. Thenur village – bat awareness and education programme One-day bat awareness and education programme was conducted in Thenur village in Trichirapalli Dsitrict, Tamil Nadu on 15th May 2014 in collaboration with Payir Trust. Youngsters from near by villages also participated. The programme was introduced using bat puzzles and the details about the common flying foxes were provided. Facts about Western Ghats and endemic bats were discussed. Importance of bats was explained and the role of bat guano in agriculture was also mentioned. This was followed by a session with the Zoo Outreach posters and booklets. The participants were divided into five groups and given ten minutes to discuss within A small mammal session in CSI Polytechnic college, themselves about bats. The team leader from each Salem
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 27 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 27 taking a pledge to protect the bats. Six interested Kadavur, Trichy; I would like to thank All India kids were identified who may be suitable volunteers Radio (AIR), Tirunelveli and Key Stone Community for the citizen science project called pterocount bat- Radio, Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu. Such conservation monitoring programme. outreach programs would not be possible without the active participants who are the torchbearers and Radio Programmes on ground stakeholders impacting conservation of 1. All India Radio (AIR) small mammals! The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Nature resources (IUCN), calls for conservation References: of all threatened flora and fauna and fungi. And to Aplin, K.P., P.B. Brown, J. Jacob, C.J. Krebs and achieve this objective it is imperative to take the G.R. Singleton (2003). Field Methods for Rodent message of conservation to the common person. A Studies in Asia and the Indo-Pacific, ACIAR radio programme on threatened rodents and Monograph No. 100, 223p, Australian Centre for insectivores was recorded on 09th February 2014 in International Agricultural Research, Canberra. All India Radio (AIR), Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu to serve this purpose. Basic information and facts on Jansen, P.A., B.T. Hirsch, W.J. Emsens, V.Z. rodents and insectivores, threats, their conservation Gutierrez, M. Wikelski and R.W. Kays (2012). significance and role of youth in conservation were Thieving rodent as substitute dispersers of discussed in the recording. megafaunal seeds. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 31, 12610–12615. 2. Key Stone Community Radio A radio interview at Keystone Community Radio in Kumar, B. and P. Iyer (2013). Pledge for Hedgehogs, Zoos Print Journal 28: 1-3. Kotagiri about hedgehogs and bats was given on 9th March 2014. Facts and interesting information Kumar, B. (2014). Small mammal conservation about bats, rats and hedgehogs were shared with awareness programmes in Tamil Nadu, India. Small local communities in the Nilgiris. Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA Volume 5, Number 2. All these programmes have helped in laying the foundation to share information on small mammals Mahawar and Jaroli (2008). Traditional and help communities change their attitude towards zootherapeutic studies in India - A review. Journal of these gentle less-glamorous creatures. These Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2008 4:17 doi: programmes will be followed up to work on the 10.1186/1746-4269-4-17. second phase of the programme of setting up small mammal conservation clubs and youth forums for Padmanabhan, P. and K.A. Sujana (2008). the tribal communities. Research is very important Animal products in traditional medicine from but taking the scientific information to the common Attappady hills of Western Ghats. Indian JournaJ of man in a lucid language is imperative to ensure Traditional Knowledge 7(2): 326-329. conservation implementation involving various stakeholders on ground. Patrick A. Jansena, Ben T. Hirscha, Willem-Jan Emsensb, Veronica Zamora-Gutierrezb, Martin Acknowledgments Wikelskia, and Roland Kays, (2012). Thieving I thank Zoo Outreach Organization and Wildlife rodents as substitute dispersers of megafaunal Information and Liaison Development for the bat seeds, PNAS, Vol. 109, no. 31. education materials, posters and greeting cards. I wish to thank Ms. Sally Walker and Dr. Sanjay Molur Sahoo and Bhattacharjee (2012) Study on for their constant encouragement and support. I Rodent Diversity in and around Marat Longri Wildlife thank Dr. B.A. Daniel and Mr. Marimuthu for their Sanctury, Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India, enormous comments and active support to conduct The science probe Vol. 1 No.1 Page no 14-20. the program in various areas. I thank ACT India Foundation, Vanavil Tribal Foster House, Kodaikanal; Solavan, A., R. Paulmurugan, V. Wilsanand and Avvai Ashram, Sivasailam; Amar Seva Sangam, A.J.A. Ranjith Singh (2004). Traditional Ayikudy; Susee auto, Tirunelveli; Tamil Nadu therapeutic uses of animals among tribal population Science Forum, Erode District; ATREE – of Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Agasthiyamalai Field Based Community Conservation Knowledge 3(2): 198-205. Center, Singampatti, Tirunelveli; Government middle school, Katteripatti, Kadayam; Arulagam, Coimbatore; Payir Nursery and Primary School, Thenur, Perambalur District; District Forest Office, Salem; Tamil Nadu Ariviyal Mandram; Kaanagam,
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 28 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 28 Chiroptera Research Techniques and Conservation in Bangladesh - Report Nurul Islam*
Group for Conservation & Research of Bats, One Health Young Voice Bangladesh (OHYVB)
On 23-25 January, 2014 Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) hosted the second workshop on bat research techniques and conservation in Bangladesh at the Uni- versity itself initiated by the Group for Conservation & Research of Bats, One Health Young Voice Bangladesh (OHYVB) and CVASU, in collaboration with the Zoo Outreach Organization, Chiroptera Conservation & Dr. Neil Furey, Fauna & Flora International (Cambodia) was the key resource person Information Network of for the workshop. South Asia (CCINSA) and the Conservation Breeding Specialist Honorable Chief Guest Group. Funding was Prof. Dr. A.S. generously provided by Mahfuzul Bari Bat Conservation delivers a International, Chester most Zoo and the Food & encouraging speech in the Agricultural Organization inaugural (FAO) and CCINSA. Dr. session of Neil M. Furey from Fauna this unique & Flora International and much (Cambodia) was key wanted and needed resource person for the workshop workshop. A total of 25 participants and 5 volunteers with backgrounds in biological and environmental *Intern Student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chittagong Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 29 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 29 sciences attended the three-day event.
Bats provide important ecological services worldwide and though they are among the most neglected mammals in Bangladesh, the country is home to at least 33 bat species. For instance, fruit bats play major roles in plant pollination, seed dispersal and forest regeneration, while insectivorous bats control harmful crop insects and serious disease vectors. Bats in Bangladesh made international news in 2001 when the first outbreak of Nipah virus occurred.
In other regions, bats are known to carry other zoonotic diseases such as Ebola, SARS, Hendra and MERS. Risks of bat-related disease outbreaks have increased due to habitat destruction and wildlife trade bringing bats into closer contact with human beings. To safeguard environmental and public health, increased research on bats is needed from ecological, conservation and medical standpoints.
To address this need, training of younger generations in multi- disciplinary approaches is required to stimulate greater interest and effort in bat research and conservation. A volunteer bat research group at Chittagong was Mist netting for live bat capturing, demonstration of netting to the created to this end and is participants, live bats in mist net handling and i.d. of bat in BARI dedicated to improving understanding and conservation of Workshop Details website for the Group for bats in Bangladesh. Opening Ceremony Conservation and Research of The workshop was inaugurated on Bats, Bangladesh As such, the purpose of the three- 22 January through a ceremony in (www.gcrbbd.org) was launched. day workshop was to: CVASU by Prof. Dr. A.S. Mahfuzul Educate 25 science students on • Bari (CVASU Vice-Chancellor). It is hoped to develop the website basic bat biology and their Special guests attending the event over time so that it becomes a key conservation importance included Prof. Dr. Md. K.l. Khan, resource for all bat researchers Provide hands-on training in field • Prof. Dr. A.K.M. Saifuddin, Prof. Dr. and enthusiasts in Bangladesh in research methods through field Md. A. Hoque, Prof. Dr. Md. A. future. practicals Hossain, Prof. Dr. A.N.M. Rahman Review the status of bat • and Dr. B.C. Sutradhar, among Workshop, Day 1 research and identify key gaps others. The first day of the workshop ran and needs in Bangladesh from 0900 to 1900 hrs and Promote bat research and • In addition to several speeches on included class-room sessions and a conservation in Bangladesh the importance of bats, the new field practical at the Bangladesh through future collaborations
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 30 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 30 Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) in Chittagong. The morning session included a series of lectures and open discussions led by Dr. Furey and Md. Nurul Islam on basic taxonomy, natural history, reproduction, ecosystem services, conservation threats and the bat fauna of Bangladesh. The early afternoon session provided instruction on live trapping methods, bat handling, field safety, data collection & management, along-side gender, age and reproductive diagnoses.
Following the early afternoon session, the participants went to BARI to undertake the field practical. During the practical, Dr. Furey demonstrated methods of setting up and handling mist nets in the field. Two nets were erected by the participants in locations thought suitable for Brief by Dr. Furey on data collection sheet capturing bats, and as darkness fell, two ultrasound (bat) detectors were used to demonstrate acoustic sampling methods. Three fruit bats (Pteropodidae) were caught in the mist nets, two of which were Cynopterus sphinx, and one appearing to be Megaerops niphanae. If confirmed, it would constitute a new country record for Bangladesh. Bat handling generated great interest also attended by the CVASU vice-chancellor.
Demonstration of captured Indian Flying fox
Workshop, Day 2 The second day of the workshop ran from 0800 to Indian Flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) roost in Chittagong 1830 hrs and similarly comprised classroom sessions and a field practical. Topics dealt with during the morning session included lectures on bat species identification, specimen collection and methods for determining species habitat preferences (via eco- morphology) and dietary composition. During the early afternoon session, instruction was given on population census and monitoring methods for flying foxes, as well as bat diseases in Bangladesh. Practical methods for preventing Nipah encephalitis were included in the latter.
Following the early afternoon session, the participants visited a permanent colony of Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus) in Chittagong city. The participants were divided into five equal-sized groups (5 members each), and using standardized Direct count of bats by the participants survey protocols provided earlier on, were given the
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 31 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 31 task of undertaking: a) a colony SK Shil presented a lecture on Bat Anatomy description, b) a direct roost count, and, c) an evening dispersal count. A single flying fox was also briefly captured by the field assistants for a short handling demonstration and released unharmed afterwards.
Workshop, Day 3 The last day of the workshop ran from 0900 to 1800 hrs and proved especially busy with a recap session on the field practical of the previous day, a series of theoretical lectures, practical demonstrations, course evaluations and a closing session.
A presentation was provided by Dr. Field session S.K. Shil on bat skeletal features and several lectures were given on bioacoustics including: functional basis and taxonomic patterns of bat echolocation, field equipment and recording methods, strengths and weaknesses of acoustic sampling, and finally echolocation call scaling, variation, measurement and description. Various models of bat detectors were also demonstrated.
Following course evaluations by participants, the closing session began at 1700 hrs. This was attended by Dr. M. Yamage (FAO representative), Prof. Dr. F. Ahsan from Chittagong University and Prof. Dr. P. K. Biswas, all of whom Classroom session gave excellent talks which included a vote of thanks to the event organizers. Participant certificates were distributed by Dr. Furey during the session, as were two copies of “Ecological and Behavioral Methods for the Study of Bats” (given to the CVASU Central Library and Green Explore Society), after which a wrap-up presentation of the workshop was given.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 32 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 32 Workshop Evaluation Towards the end of day 3 of the workshop, a simple questionnaire was provided to the 25 participants to solicit their opinions and evaluation of the training program.
Asked whether they found the event useful, 55% said that they found the training “extremely useful”, 40.7% said they found it “really useful” and 3.7% said they found it “definitely useful”. None of the participants opted for the remaining two categories: “not useful” and “A little useful” (Figure 1). When asked if they thought they might like to work with bats in future, all said they would and Certificate issued by Furey to the participants indicated their areas of interest in descending order as: “Research” = 62.9%, “Conservation” = 18.5%, “Education” = 11.1% and “Other” (Disease studies) = 7.04% (Figure 2).
The following comments illustrate what participants liked most about the course:
“I liked the technical section of the course, especially the field research parts and where Dr. Furey described behavioral patterns of bats and field research techniques” (Animesh Ghose).
“It was really amazing experience to learn these relatively new concepts (for us) about bats. I especially liked the population monitoring and emergence counts of the fruit bats (Pteropus giganteus). I was also pleased with our exposure to real field conditions. We were really surprised to see the differences in emergence counts between the different groups” (Rahul Talukdar).
“I especially liked the echolocation and mist netting techniques in BARI. It was really surprising to hear bat calls through the detectors. I also enjoyed the sessions on live-trapping and species identification” (Fakrul Islam). Field demonstration
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 33 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 33 When asked for suggestions for future courses, Resources & Networking responses were: GRCB aims to develop resources in Chittagong for bat enthusiasts throughout Bangladesh. Though “Almost all of us had no or only very basic these are still very limited, students and researchers knowledge on bat research and techniques. The can borrow materials free (only domestic shipping workshop was only for 3 days and had a packed costs will apply) for the duration of their projects. schedule. Though the course content was much as GCRB should explore ways to develop its available an hour. It would be better to have breaks after 30 resource in terms of equipment and literature. The to 40 minutes to help participants keep their GCRB website (www.gcrbbd.org) should be actively concentration. And it would also be great if future developed to stimulate and maintain interactions workshops were longer, at least 7 days” (Ferdous between all interested parties. All participants and Alom). bat enthusiasts should also be urged to become a member of CCINSA of the Zoo Outreach “It was good to learn and get practical experience Organization. from the field trip each day, but we now need to use what we have learnt. Sophisticated equipment like Funding Opportunities bat detectors and even simple things like mist nets Securing funding is the major challenge to develop are not available in Bangladesh. We need to develop bat research and conservation initiatives in our resources so that we can apply our new Bangladesh. Nonetheless, participants are knowledge. We can also pass it onto others that recommended to do all they can to explore potential couldn’t participate in the workshop” (Rubyath Binth funding sources. The GRCB website should also Hasan). maintain a database of potential donors interested in supporting research and conservation of bats. “The workshop venue was in a busy metropolitan area and I was really interested to learn about bat Bats & Diseases echolocation. But due to time constraints I didn’t Nipah virus is an important and widespread issue in have many opportunities to use the bat detectors. Bangladesh. All bat researchers are recommended It would be great if field trips focusing on to adopt Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) echolocation could be included after the training on protocols (provided during the workshop) when call measurement. Also the software was not undertaking field studies. installed on participant laptops so we missed some exciting opportunities!” (Tawhid Hossain).
From the organizers point of view: “It was a lot of work to manage all of the daily tasks associated with 25 participants. Some topics were not covered and some had to be dealt with rather quickly due to time constraints. It would be worth expanding this type of workshop to at least 10 days.” (Nurul Islam).
Recommendations Capacity building for bat taxonomy Knowledge of the Bangladeshi bat fauna remains in its infancy. The current checklist of species for the country is incomplete and due to training and resource limitations, the taxonomic capacity needed to identify bat species does not yet exist. As correct species identifications are fundamental to effective research & conservation efforts, we recommend: The report has been prepared by GROUP FOR CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH OF Organization of a ten-day workshop to build BATS taxonomic capacity in Bangladesh. Jakir Hossain Road, Khulshi Chittagong-4202, Bangladesh Development of a bat voucher specimen collection at Email & Websites: [email protected] www.gcrbbd.org Anatomy Museum of Chittagong Veterinary and www.facebook.com/gcrb.org.bd Animal Sciences University to facilitate training and research.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 34 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 34 Evaluation results
Figure 1: Participant evaluation on the usefulness of the workshop
Figure 2: Participant responses on their future career interests relating to bats
Participants with the trainer and guest in a frame!
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 35 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 35 Training Workshop on Building National Capacity in Research and Monitoring of Small Mammals, Nepal Report by SMCRF
Background Small mammals are widely distributed in high density compared to large mammals but their ecological study is more difficult. Nepal has 200 years of history of scientific study of small mammals but inspite of that there is long intervals including several decades and almost all studies were limited temporally and spatially. Neither natives nor government ever took the study of smal mammals seriously. 48.1% of small mammals of Nepal are under the category of Data Deficient, 8.9% are Endangered and 43% are Least Concern (Jnawali et al. 2011). Small mammals are often the indicators of healthy ecosystens, means of seed Deploy of mist net with the participants at the bank of Rapti river dispersals, pollination, prey base (Photo ©SMCRF) for variety of reptiles, raptors and small carnivores. Small mammals including small carnivores are one of the least known mammalian group of Nepal. There are few small mammals enthusiasts and even fewer experts in the country. This training with the help of experts covered introduction to small mammals, tools used in their study, their research design and data analysis methods. The experts maintained and trained with the highest ethical value of handling these tiny species in the field. Thus, this training was certainly a step towards capacity building in research and monitoring of small mammals. After the training, we expect the participants to be able to design research, undertake field survey using Preparation for the setting of tube traps (Photo ©SMCRF) available advance technologies, data analysis and write scientific Objectives also encouraged discussion on the papers. The main objective of the training lectures and field practicals. The was to capacitate field biologists training lasted for 7 nights and 8 The proposed work on “Training on small mammal research and days. Workshop on Building National survey in the country. Capacity in Research and Monitoring of Small Mammals” is Methodology a part of Hariyo Ban‟s IR 1 The training was based on Small Mammals Conservation and Activity Reducing threat to the Research Foundation, Balkhu, lectures and field practicals from Kathmandu, Nepal. Email: focal species. the experts. Training sessions [email protected]
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 36 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 36 knowledge of data analysis tool, ability to use GIS, photography skills, knowledge of scientific paper writing process. All these topics were covered in the training workshop through various experts.
Summary A seven days Training Workshop on Building National Capacity in Research and Monitoring of Small Mammals was conducted at the premises of Biodiversity Conservation Center, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Sauraha, Chitwan. Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation organized this training with the support of WWF/Hariyo Ban Program with its Demonstration of installing method of camera traps to the participants at partner organizations (USAID, the BCC, Sauraha (Photo ©SMCRF) WWF, CARE, FECOFUN and NTNC), Chester Zoo and Zoo Outreach Organization. Twelve participants were chosen for the training from different institutions viz. Central Department of Zoology, TU, Institute of Forestry, Hetauda and Pokhara, T. U ., Kathmandu Forestry College, Kathmandu, Khwopa College, TU and Central Department of Botany, TU.
Training included the theoretical classes followed by practicals in the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park. Trainees were introduced with the general concept of small mammal’s species of Nepal which included bats, rodents, shrews, small cats, small carnivores, pangolins and red panda and their practical Greater Asiatic Yellow Bat, Scotophilus heathii demonstrated to the research techniques. Trainees participants (Photo ©SMCRF) were also made familiar with GIS technology, First aid methods Selection of the Participants Lectures and Practical during the field wildlife Twelve graduate level students Different experts of small photography and data analysis from ecology, environment mammals were invited to present using open software R. science, forestry, sociology and the lectures. They were also zoology were selected on the involved in the practical session The training practical included the merit basis. Participants were for field techniques study of small bat survey using mist nets and interviewed by the selection mammals. Wildlife and ecological bat detectors. Trainees were committee before selecting them. study is a multidimensional shown the methods to handle the Among twelve participants one subject. To carry out a successful bats in the field and take each from chepang, rai, magar wildlife study one must have necessary morphometric and gurung community, two sound health, ability to work in a measurement needed for the participants from newar group, good interpersonal skill, identification of bats. Tube traps community and six participants ability to tackle the emergency were used to study the rodents from brahmin community. situation, field techniques skill, and shrews. Traps kept in the
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 37 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 37 evening were checked early in the next day morning. Captured rodents and shrews were handled in the field and morphometric measurements and weight were taken. No animals were harmed. They were identified and released at the trapping sites. Camera traps were used to record the nocturnal animals, like cats, civets etc. The traps were set in the evening and checked early in the morning just before the lecture class sessions.
Training workshop was followed by seven days bat survey of Deukhuri valley in Dang. The survey focused on diversity and distribution of bat species, their habitat mapping and impact of Measurement of House Shrew, Suncus murinus demonstrated to the climate change on bat population. participants (Photo © SMCRF) Nine species of bats namely Hipposideros armiger, Rousettus leschenaulti, Megaderma lyra, Scotophilus heathii, Cynopterus sphinx, Pteropus giganteus, Pipistrellus sp., Rhinolophus sp., Nyctalus sp. were recorded from different sites of Deukhuri valley of Dang district. More than 50% survey respondents stated the decreasing pattern of bat population in Dekhuri valley due to habitat loss, deforestation and hunting. In addition to that more than 50% of respondent felt the intensity of rainfall is increasing with hail stone and the earlier maturation of flowering plants.
Outcome of the Training The training workshop enhanced the knowledge on handling and research of trainee on small mammals. The training developed the basic working knowledge on concept, size, distribution and weight of small mammals. Trainee gained basic working knowledge on taxonomy of small mammals, small mammals handling equipments, GIS, field research experience, research design concept, wildlife photography methods, data analysis techniques. The training also formed a platform to bring the experts of different wildlife field in one place and created an Demonstration of cleaning techniques of trap after the use (Photo © SMCRF) environment to disseminate the
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 38 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 38 collective knowledge on research and conservation of small mammals to the trainees. University professor, medical practitioner, bureaucrats, wildlife managers, wildlife scientist, photo journalist, data analyst, GIS expert were the training faculty whereas the students of forestry, zoology, botany and environment science were the trainees which created a very academic environment for the success of the training.
Course Evaluation Demonstration of measurement of Common House Shrew, Suncus murinus Training evaluation test were (Photo © SMCRF) conducted to know the success of the training. Trainees were asked to fill the pre and post assessment forms regarding the training workshop, different aspects of small mammals and the usefulness of the training to them. Feedback of trainees on the training quality, topics of the training and management were also collected.
Reflection from the Participants Participants were highly motivated to work in the sector of small mammals of Nepal. The syllabus of the training was highly
Lecture session of data analysis techniques using software R praised for its overall approach on (Photo © SMCRF) the research of small mammals. However, p articipants wanted a bit more sessions on data analysis and GIS techniques for presentation of the research. Participants and trainers praised the overall management of the logistics and preparation of the training. Video sessions, precaution on biohazard sessions, wildlife crime sessions, were added on the proposed training syllabus.
Report by: Sagar Dahal, Narayan Lamichane, Rameshwor Ghimire, Dibya Raj Dahal, Kabita Karki, Tulsi Laxmi Suwal, Hem Bahadur Katuwal, Suraj Baral, Sabina Koirala, and Sanjan Thapa.
Workshop Participants
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 39 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 39 Insect Pest Management by Horseshoe Bats of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu Selva Ponmalar, S. and Juliet Vanitharani
Abstract Being the only flying mammal, bats are capable of sustained flight and are the most gregarious and successful group of beneficial animals to the ecosystem and have lured the attention of ethologists. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), which is the home for many endemic, rare and threatened species of plants and animals, is selected as the study area. Insect pests, being the most destructive agents affecting forest and shade trees are by far the most numerous animal lives inhabiting the forest. As the primary predators of nocturnal insects, the species of Cave entrance Rhinolophus genus help to control insect pest populations throughout its geographic range. The studies on faecal pellet analysis has proved their control over the lepidopteran, coleopteran, dipteran, hymenopteran, homopteran, orthopteran, hemipteran trichopteran and neuropteran group of insect pests that infects the forest trees of KMTR. The valuable pest controlling service provided by the study species needs special protection through conservation measures.
Key words: KMTR, pests, predators, Rhinolophus pest controller.
Introduction Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Mist netting at the foraging araea Reserve (KMTR), which is situated in the south Western Ghats of forest and shade trees (Grindal a variety of foraging niches and Brigham 1999, Douce et al. inaccessible to other mammals. Tamil Nadu, India, is one among 2002). They affect tree roots, Undoubtedly, they are the most the 35 world biodiversity hotspots stems, leaves of healthy or gregarious and successful group which is bound by different types of forests in west, north and south weakened trees, hardwoods etc. of beneficial animals to the and by villages in the east. This is Insectivorous bats play a ecosystem. the only area of Western Ghats significant role of pest management in all forested which has longest raining period. Bat Research Laboratory, Department Insect pests are the most ecosystems (Barclay 1985, of Zoology and Research Centre, Sarah Freeman 1979, Fenton 2003). Tucker College (Autonomous), destructive agents that affect Tirunelveli. Email: jvanitharani Flight has enabled them to exploit @gmail.com
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 40 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 40 throughout its geographic range. They roost in large numbers in caves, underground tunnels and abandoned old buildings. These insectivorous bats have many morphological adaptations that allow them to capture and handle prey in flight. Their dietary adaptations are commonly reflected in the skull (feeding apparatus) and wing (flight apparatus) morphology. Teeth and skull are the morphological indicators with food and the relationship in dietary diversity (Neuweiler 2001). To suit their diet preference they show considerable diversity in wing Bat expedition team morphology (Fenton 1992) and flight style (Neuweiler 1984). The present study focuses on the impact of rhinolophids as pest controllers in the forests of KMTR.
Materials and methods The field work was conducted between May 2011 and December 2013 in KMTR (8.6833o N; 77.3167o E; Elevation range 40 – 1800 m). Initially, the study sites were surveyed to collect baseline data on bat species and abundance. The distribution of the study species was confirmed by erecting mist nets, setting canopy nets, harp nets and using hand- held nets. Photographic record of the mist netted bats was done for closer look on morphological features. Roost searches were carried out in abandoned buildings, rock crevices, cracks, tunnels, caves etc. The bats from roosting sites were collected using hand-held nets and mist nets to confirm identification. Measurements were taken following Bates and Harrison (1997). The bats were then released back in the place where they were caught.
Dietary habitat analysis of studied Harp trap setting rhinolophids was done by faecal pellet analysis. Fresh faecal Among the insectivorous bats, the thereby keeping the insect pellets were collected from the species of the Rhinolophus are population under control. They day roost by spreading polythene rich in number, play a crucial role forage and feed insects sheets once in a fortnight. Twenty
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 41 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 41 pellets were randomly selected and their dried weight (0.15gm) was taken to 0.01 gm accuracy by using digital balance (OHAUS- USA). The pellets were soaked in 70 percent alcohol and teased apart individually using fine needle under microscope. Then they were mounted in DPX on glass slides. Each slide was systematically searched for identifiable insect parts under binocular microscope (Olympus CH2Oi. Japan). Identifications were made with the help of authenticated literatures (Borror 1992) available on Indian insects. R. indorouxii Identifications were made up to the order level following Nair (1989) and Borror (1992). Common insects collected from the foraging area helped in easy comparison of prey selection of the bat and the major pest prevailing in the study area. The percentage frequency of insect orders consumed and percentage volume of preferred insect orders by these horseshoe bats were calculated for the entire study period by using the following formulae (Kunz 1988).
Percentage Volume = Sum of individual volumes ------x100 Total volume of the sample
Percentage frequency = Number of occurrence of categories ------x100 Total occurrence of all categories
Statistical analysis A significance test was done to find the food selection and food consumption rate among the rhinolophids of KMTR. Differences in consumed prey categories were assessed using ANOVA. Analyses were performed in SPSS 13 software.
Results The present project has documented the variation in dietary preference and food Plate 1. Wing and Skull morphology of studied species consumption as well as their
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 42 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 42 Rhinolophus indorouxii
Plate 2a. Percentage frequency of insect consumption Plate 2b. Percentage frequency of insect consumption and the identified parts from the dictary item of and the identified parts from the dictary item of Rhinolophus indorouxii Rhinolophus pusillus
correlation to flight and feeding niches of Horseshoe composition belongs to the order Lepidoptera, bats (Rhinolophus indorouxii, Rhinolophus pusillus, Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera which are the Rhinolophus lepidus and Rhinolophus beddomei) of major orders that comprise the major insect pests of KMTR. Morphological measurements and body the forest ecosystem. The percentage frequency of weights of the studies species are available in a insect consumption and the identified parts from different publication by Selva Ponmalar and their dietary items are represented in plates 2 a,b,c Vanitharani (2014). Plate 1 shows the variation in and d. the wing and skull structural morphology of bat species to suit their dietary and foraging preference. Discussion The body parts, wing fragments and scales Bats (Chiroptera), are the major contributors to belonging to nine orders of insects were found to mammalian biodiversity, comprising about 20% of predominate the bat droppings examined. The faecal mammalian species globally (Simmons 2005). In pellet analysis of the study species showed their tropical ecosystems the insect eating bats fulfill key hierarchy in the diet selection and consumption of ecosystem services as control agents of arthropod major insect orders preference throughout the year. populations (Kalka et al. 2008, Williams-Guillén et In all the four study species, the major dietary al. 2008). The present study is focused on the pest
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 43 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 43 Plate 2c. Percentage frequency of insect consumption Plate 2d. Percentage frequency of insect consumption and the identified parts from the dictary item of and the identified parts from the dictary item of Rhinolophus lepidus Rhinolophus beddomei
suppression impact of identified horseshoe bats and R.beddomei, trichopterans by R.lepidus. The (Rhinolophus indorouxii, Rhinolophus pusillus, dietary preference of the studied rhinolophids shows Rhinolophus lepidus and Rhinolophus beddomei) of that they prey predominantly on lepidopterans KMTR. These bats were captured from foraging (23%). Sharifi and Hemmati (2001, 2004) also areas, roosting caves and tunnels at Sengaltheri, reported that lepidopterans were the most Kodayar, Mundanthurai and Servalar hills. consumed and preferred prey item of Rhinolophus species. The larvae of many lepidopteran species are Dietary selection and consumption considered as major pests. By preying a single Food consumption was not alike in all the studied lepidopteran the bat really protect the vegetation horseshoe bats. The orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, from 200 to 600 caterpillars a female lepidopteran Diptera and Hymenoptera were consumed by all the can produce. four Rhinolophus species. Neuropterans were preferred only by R.beddomei, Orthopterans were The ranking of insect order consumed by these bats selected by only R.indorouxii, Hemipterans by R. are Coleoptera (22%), Diptera (19%), Hymenoptera pusillus and R.lepidus. Homopterans by R.indorouxii (12%) and Hemiptera (8%). Many coleopteran
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 44 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 44 beetles are hardwood pests and they infest the trees is essentially robust to counter the reaction forces which cannot be even saved with insecticide while biting hard prey like beetles. This type of treatments. Thereby, to limit beetle population, the feeding behaviour in R.beddomei was strongly predation by bats on these insects in the forest confirmed by Phillips (1980). Bogdanowlez et al. ecosystem is very beneficial. In addition, the studied (1999) said that the well developed coronoid process rhinolophids also consume insects belong to the allows increased leverage and accommodated large order Trichoptera (5%), Homoptera (5%), jaw muscle. Increase in the size of temporal muscle Orthoptera (4%) and Neuroptera (2%). Incidentally can allow an animal to resist the increased stress of these groups of insects are also the pests that struggling, crush hard shelled items and facilitate attack forest trees. The dietary preference, thereby more extensive use of canines (Maynard Smith and confirms the impact of horseshoe bats as pest Savage 1959, Bates and Harrison 1997, Sinha and controllers in the forest ecosystem. Advani 1976, Whitaker et al. 1999, Advani 1980, 1981, 1982, Philips 1980). But the other studied Correlates of Flight and Skull Morphology in rhinolophids exhibit lesser coronoid process with Insect Pest Management thinner jaws. These characteristics assume that A suite of morphological factors influences foraging these rhinolophids prefer soft food items like behaviour in insectivorous bats, including body mass butterflies, grasshoppers, etc. Findings of Brosset and the size and shape of the skull, jaws and wings. 1962, Phillips 1980 and Jones et al. 1994 also Large bats with large jaws are capable of eating a confirmed the rhinolophid feed analysis results. wider range of prey sizes than small bats, resulting Next to feeding apparatus the flight mechanism in in a broader feeding niche. Differences in skull and bats are associated with partitioning of food dental morphology that correlate with dietary resources among bats (Norberg and Rayner 1987). hardness are found among insectivores (Freeman Bats with different wing designs, varied flight style 1979, Dumont 1999). To consume large size prey, and performance show considerable diversity in diet the Rhinolophus beddomei are adapted with broader preference (Neuweiler 1984 and Fenton 1992). Body palate. This structure presumably made them to mass, wingspan and wing area are the primary prefer hard food item like beetles, moth, caddish fly measures of wing design. From these parameters, etc. The other study species R.indorouxii, R.pusillus wing loading and aspect ratio are derived, which and R.lepidus seem to have narrow palate as they describe the size and shape of the wings feed on butterflies, bugs, wasps and small moths, respectively (Norberg and Rayner 1987). Interaction the soft prey items. This type of feeding behaviour between aspect ratio, wing loading and wing tip correlated to the dental and skull structures were shape index affect flight (Norberg and Rayner 1987, confirmed by the earlier studies (Philips 1980, Neuweiler 1989, Habersetzer and Storch 1989, Advani 1981, Whitaker et al. 1996, Bates and Rayner et al. 1989, Fenton 1990). Manoeuverability Harrison 1997). and agility are the two factors that are strongly influenced by flight adaptation. These two factors The large difference in physical properties (size, explain the ability of bats to change the flight hardness, toughness) of food item demands direction without loss of speed and with small adaptations in cranial morphology and the turning radius. performance of the feeding apparatus (Freeman 1979, 1988, 1995). The assessment of physical Among the studied bat species, the R. beddomei has properties of food items thus offer tremendous higher wing loading, lesser manoeuverability and insights into the range of variation in cranial and forage in open uncluttered habitat. R.indorouxii has mandibular adaptations, to suit food utilization wing loading lesser than R.beddomei and they patterns among insectivores (Strait 1993). forage in less cluttered habitat wheras the other two R.beddomei has higher coronoid process allowing for study species R. lepidus and R. pusillus have very the attachment of well developed jaw muscle which lesser wing loading, greater maneurability and they
Megaderma spasma colony - tree hole
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 45 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 45 exploit cluttered vegetation. They fly among foliage Advani, R. (1982). Feeding, foraging and roosting canopy catching insects among branches. Although behaviour of the fruit eating bats and damage to Rhinolophidae has short wing tips, slow flight and fruit crops in Rajasthan and Gujarat. low manoeuvrablity they can fly with same hovering Säugetierkundlische Mitteilungen, 32: 46–18. often within clutter (Barrett-Hamilton 1910 and Wallin 1969). The low wing loading and the short, Barclay, R.M.R. (1985). Long- versus short-range cambered wings permit highly manoeuvrable flight foraging strategies of hoary (Lasiurus and the slow light turns, which are essential for cinereus) and silver-haired (Lasionycteris insect hawking near vegetation. These bats can also noctivagans) bats and the consequences for prey glean on resting insects. The wing morphology selection. Can. J. of Zoology 63:2507-2515. thereby assists these bats to do various flight performances to catch the detected prey by Bates, P.J.J. and D.L. Harrison (1997). Bats of echolocation. After prey capture, the dental the Indian subcontinent. Harrison Zool Mus. Pub., morphology aids the bats to consume them. England.
Conclusion Barrett-Hamilton, G.E.H. (1910). A History of The dietary analysis and the morphological British Mammals. Parts 1-6.Gurney & Jackson : correlations of the rhinolophids of KMTR confirmed London 263 pp. their role as a great pest manager. Bats being the vital member in the ecosystem functioning, and their Bogdanowicz, W., M.B. Fenton and K. potentials as indicator species, stressed their Daleszczyk (1999). The relationships between importance for sustainable forest management and echolocation calls, morphology and diet in biodiversity conservation. The bat conservation will insectivorous bats. J. Zool. (Lond.) 247: 381–393. not only keep a check on insect pest population but also replenish the forest ecosystem. These reviewed Borror, D. (1992). An Introduction to the study of facts confirmed the importance and need for insects. Harcourt Bace College Publishers, USA. monitoring bat populations. Without scientific 879-896. information and thorough documentation of their ecological values, it is difficult to convince the Brosset, A. (1962). La reproduction des government to protect them through legislation. Chiropteres de 1'ouest et du centre de ITnde. Mammalia. 26:176-213. Acknowledgements Special thanks and acknowledgement to Tamil Nadu Douce, G.K., D.J. Moorhead and C.T. Bargeron Forest Department, Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger (2002). Forest Pest Control, The University of Reserve, Tirunelveli, for granting permission to Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental conduct bat survey and logistical advice. Thanks to Sciences, Special Bulletin 16, Revised January. Dr. Paul Bates, Dr. David Harrison and Dr. Nikky Thomas, and Mr.Malcom Perch of Harrison Institute, Dumont, E.R. (1999). The effect of food hardness UK for their collaboration, help in the identification on feeding behaviour in frugivorous bats (Family of bat specimens as well as timely guidance in bat Phyllostomidae): an experimental study. J.of studies. JV would like to extend her grateful thanks Zoology (London), 248:219-229. to The Rufford Foundation Small Grants, UK and Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Abu Fenton, M.B. (1990). The foraging behaviour and Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the financial ecology of animal eating bats. Can. J.Zool.68: support to the field work. 411-422.
References Fenton, M.B. (1992). Pellage pattern and crypsis Advani, R. (1980). Observations on feeding in roosting bats. Taphozous mauritianus and ecology and behaviour of the Kutch sheath tailed Ephomophorus species. Koe.,35:49-55. bat, Taphozous kachhensis kachhensis in Rajasthan. Zeitschrift fuer Angewandte Zoologie 67(3): Fenton, M.B. (2003). “Science and the 279-285. conservation of bats: where to next?” Wildlife Society Bulletin, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 6–15. Advani, R. (1981). Seasonal fluctuations in the feeding ecology of the Indian false vampire Freeman, P.W. (1979). Specialized insectivory: Megaderma lyra lyra (Chiroptera: Megadermatidae) Beetle-eating and moth-eating molossid bats. J. of in Rajasthan. Zeits. Saug., 46(2):90-93. Mammalogy 60:467-479.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 46 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 46 Freeman, P.W. (1988). Frugivorous and Rayner, H.C., R.C. Atkins, R.A. Westerman animalivorous bats (Microchiroptera): dental and (1989). Relief of local stump pain by capsaicin cranial adaptations. Biol. J. of the Linnean Society cream. Lancet II: 1276-1277. 33:249-272. Selva Ponmalar, S. and J. Freeman, P.W. (1995). Nectarivorous feeding Vanitharani (2014). Insect pest management by mechanisms in bats. Biol. J. of the Linnean Society the horse shoe bats (Rhinolophus species) in the 56:439-463. forest ecosystem of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, India. Scrutiny International Research Grindal, S.D. and R.M. Brigham (1999). Impacts Journal of Biological and Environmental Science, of forest harvesting on habitat use by foraging 1(5): 14-32. insectivorous bats at different spatial scale. Ecoscience 6:25-34. Sharifi, M. and Z. Hemmati (2001). Food of Mehely's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus mehelyi in a Habersetzer, J. and G. Storch (1989). Ecology maternity colony in western Iran. Myotis 39:17-20. and echolocation of the Eocene Messel bats. In: Hana´ k V,Hora´cˇek I, Gaisler J, eds. European bat Sharifi, M. and Z. Hemmati (2004). Variation in research 1987. Prague: Charles University Press, the diet of Mehely's horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus 213–133. mehelyi, in three contrasting environments in western Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 33:65-72. Jones, G.C., H.L.H. John and S. Moshe (1994). Organisms as ecosystem engineers. Oikos 69: Sinha, Y.P. and R. Advani (1976). Notes on food 373-386. and reproduction of some Rajasthan bats. Geobios 3(2): 37 - 40. Kalko, E.K.V., S. Estrada Villegas, M. Schmidt, M. Wegmann and C.F.J. Meyer (2008). Flying Simmons, N.B. (2005). Order Chiroptera, pp. high – assessing the use of the aerosphere by bats. 312-529. In: D.E. Wilson and D.M. Reeder (eds.), Integrative and Comparative Biology 48, 60–73. Mammal Species of the World, 3rd Edition, Volume 1. The John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maynard Smith, J. and R.J.G. Savage (1959). MD, USA. 2142 pp. The mechanics of mammalian jaws. Sch. Sci. Rev. 40: 289±301. Strait, S.G. (1993). Differences in occlusal morphology and molar size in frugivores and Nair, P.K.R. (1989). Agroforestry systems in the faunivores, J. of Human evolution. Vol. 25 : 471– tropics. Kluwer Academic publishers. Dordrecht. 484. Netherlands. Wallin, L. (1969). The Japanese bat fauna. Zool Neuweiler, G. (1984). Evolutionary Aspects of Bat Bidrg, 37: 226–440. Echolocation, J. Comp. Physiol. A, 2003, vol. 189, pp. 245–256. Whitaker, J.O., C. Neefus and T.H. Kunz (1996). Dietary variation in the Mexican free-tailed bat Neuweiler, G. (1989). Foraging ecology and (Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana). J. of Mammalogy audition in echolocating bats. Trends Ecol. Evol. 4: 77:716-724. 160–166. Whitaker, J.O., S.S. Issac, G. Marimuthu and Neuweiler, G. (2001). The biology of bats, T.H. Kunz (1999). Seasonal variation in the diet of Published by Oxford University Press. the Indianpygmy bat, Pipistrellus mimus in South India. J. of Mammology 80: 60-70. Norberg, U.M. and J.M. Rayner (1987). Ecological Morphology and Flight in Bats (Mammalia; Williams-Guillén, K., I. Perfecto and J. Chiroptera): Wing Adaptation, Flight Performance, Vandermeer (2008). Bats limit insects in a Foraging Strategy and Echolocation, Phil. Trans. R. Neotropical agroforestry system. Science 320: 70. Soc. Lond. B, 1987, pp. 335–427.
Philips, W.W.A. (1980). Manual of the mammal of Sri Lanka. Part-1, wildlife and nature protection Society of Sri Lanka 1-116.
Small Mammal Mail - Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 47 Volume 6, Number 1, Jan-Aug 2014 47 SMALL MAMMAL NETWORKS SMALL MAMMAL NETWORKS 2013 Donors and Partners Chiroptera Conservation and Information Network of South Asia (CCINSA)
CCINSA is a network of South Asian Chiroptera specialists, educators and enthusiasts. The network aims to enhance communication, Chester Zoo, North of England Zoological cooperation and collaboration among Society Chester Zoo Conservation Fund has chiroptera specialists of this region and thereby been supporting ZOO/CCINSA office, BAT NET create a chiroptera conservation “community” newsletter and field techniquest training for the for better biodiversity conservation. last decade. www.chesterzoo.org Chair: Sripathi Kandula Bat Conservation International Convenor and Administrator: Sally Walker BCI is one of the most active, innovative Red List and Technical Advisor: Sanjay Molur and respected bat conservation organisations in the world. See BCI’s Rodentia, Insectivora, and Scandentia wonderful website: www.batcon.org Conservation & Information Network of South Asia (RISCINSA) Universities Federation for Animal Welfare http://www.ufaw.org.uk/ RISCINSA network of South Asia was suggested by interested biodiversity IUCN SSC Bat Specialist Group conservation specialists and the purpose of this CCINSA represents the IUCN SSC network, then is to link together rodent field Bat Specialist Group in South Asia. researchers and their field knowledge BSG utilises the CCINSA Network to throughout South Asia (Afghanistan, locate specialists in different subject Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, areas, to organise training as well Pakistan and Sri Lanka) so the pooling of as conservation assessment information can lead to conservation action. workshops and other activities to assist the CSG in their mission. Contact : Scientific Chair: Sujit Chakraborty Chair Paul Racey: [email protected] Convenor and Administrator: Sally Walker Red List and Technical Advisor: Sanjay Molur See Website: www.iucnbsg.org/
Small Mammal Mail
SMM is a web-based bi-annual Newsletter celebrating the most useful yet most neglected Mammals for both CCINSA & RISCINSA -- Chiroptera, Rodent, Insectivore, & Scandens Conservation and Information Networks of South Asia.
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